When do catbirds leave West Virginia?

Most Gray Catbirds have left West Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see catbirds in West Virginia?

The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 39% of West Virginia checklists.

Gray Catbird · Dumetella carolinensis

When Do Catbirds Arrive in West Virginia?

Photo: Melanie Gaddy, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Gray Catbirds reach West Virginia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April

Common byApr 22-30late April

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 39% of West Virginia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Catbirds in West Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Gray Catbird	Apr 15-21	Apr 22-30	May 15-21	Oct 1-7	39%

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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Gray Catbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Tyler CountyBest mid May · 10 checklists that week, 214 in all80%
Barbour CountyBest the second week of August · 45 checklists that week, 1,534 in all75%
Wetzel CountyBest the second week of May · 67 checklists that week, 1,196 in all75%
Mineral CountyBest late June · 54 checklists that week, 2,389 in all73%
Randolph CountyBest mid September · 107 checklists that week, 6,495 in all66%
Doddridge CountyBest late May · 15 checklists that week, 427 in all65%

Common questions

When do catbirds arrive in West Virginia?: Gray Catbirds reach West Virginia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (39% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do catbirds leave West Virginia?: Most Gray Catbirds have left West Virginia by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see catbirds in West Virginia?: The Gray Catbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 39% of West Virginia checklists.