WhenToBird

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in Vermont?

Adult Gray Catbird
Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach Vermont in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (44% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 44% of Vermont checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Catbirds in Vermont, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Gray CatbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 22-31Oct 1-744%
0%20%40%60%Gray CatbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Gray Catbird
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Vermont that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Vermont

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Windham CountyBest mid May · 1261 checklists that week, 39,105 in all55%
  2. Rutland CountyBest the second week of September · 676 checklists that week, 46,909 in all52%
  3. Bennington CountyBest mid May · 799 checklists that week, 21,621 in all51%
  4. Chittenden CountyBest late May · 4263 checklists that week, 109,477 in all50%
  5. Windsor CountyBest late June · 1516 checklists that week, 73,702 in all50%
  6. Orange CountyBest mid July · 276 checklists that week, 16,964 in all45%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in Vermont?
Gray Catbirds reach Vermont in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (44% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave Vermont?
Most Gray Catbirds have left Vermont by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in Vermont?
The Gray Catbird is reported most often in late May, on about 44% of Vermont checklists.