When do cardinals leave New Mexico?

Most Northern Cardinals have left New Mexico by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see cardinals in New Mexico?

The Northern Cardinal is reported most often in late April, on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.

Northern Cardinal · Cardinalis cardinalis

When Do Cardinals Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Michael, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Northern Cardinals reach New Mexico in the second week of November, are common by mid November, peak in late April (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

Cardinals here are the bird, not a sports team.

When to look

First arrivalsNov 8-14the second week of November

Common byNov 15-21mid November

PeakApr 22-30late April

Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: late April. First arrivals the second week of November; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Cardinals in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Northern Cardinal	Nov 8-14	Nov 15-21	Apr 22-30	Aug 22-31	2.1%

Northern Cardinal

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Best counties for Northern Cardinal

Share of checklists at the peak

Sierra CountyBest late June · 158 checklists that week, 13,458 in all37%
Eddy CountyBest late April · 519 checklists that week, 11,011 in all27%
De Baca CountyBest late July · 15 checklists that week, 2,203 in all19%
Quay CountyBest mid September · 44 checklists that week, 2,220 in all18%
Grant CountyBest late June · 356 checklists that week, 16,662 in all15%
Guadalupe CountyBest mid May · 109 checklists that week, 2,614 in all12%

All cardinals, grosbeaks & buntings in New Mexico

12 species are reported regularly: 10 are summer visitors, 1 are winter visitors, and 1 mostly pass through.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Black-headed Grosbeak	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	May 15-21	29%
2	Western Tanager	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	May 15-21	26%
3	Blue Grosbeak	Summer visitor	May 1-7	Aug 8-14	20%
4	Summer Tanager	Summer visitor	Apr 8-14	May 8-14	12%
5	Lazuli Bunting	Summer visitor	Apr 15-21	Aug 22-31	6.1%
6	Pyrrhuloxia	Winter visitor	Sep 15-21	Jan 1-7	5.2%
7	Hepatic Tanager	Summer visitor	May 1-7	Jun 1-7	2.4%
8	Northern Cardinal	Summer visitor	Nov 8-14	Apr 22-30	2.1%
9	Dickcissel	Summer visitor	Aug 15-21	Sep 15-21	1.8%
10	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Passes through	Apr 22-30	May 8-14	1.8%
11	Indigo Bunting	Summer visitor	May 1-7	Jul 8-14	1.3%
12	Painted Bunting	Summer visitor	May 1-7	Sep 8-14	1.0%

Common questions

When do cardinals arrive in New Mexico?: Northern Cardinals reach New Mexico in the second week of November, are common by mid November, peak in late April (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do cardinals leave New Mexico?: Most Northern Cardinals have left New Mexico by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see cardinals in New Mexico?: The Northern Cardinal is reported most often in late April, on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.