When do cardinals leave North Dakota?

Most Northern Cardinals have left North Dakota by early June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.

When is the best time to see cardinals in North Dakota?

The Northern Cardinal is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 8.5% of North Dakota checklists.

Northern Cardinal · Cardinalis cardinalis

When Do Cardinals Arrive in North Dakota?

Photo: Michael, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Northern Cardinals reach North Dakota in early July, are common by early August, peak in the second week of May (8.5% of checklists), and most are gone by early June.

Cardinals here are the bird, not a sports team.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 1-7early July

Common byAug 1-7early August

PeakMay 8-14the second week of May

Most gone byJun 1-7early June

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals early July; most are gone by early June. Peak: on about 8.5% of North Dakota checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Cardinals in North Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Northern Cardinal	Jul 1-7	Aug 1-7	May 8-14	Jun 1-7	8.5%

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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

Best counties for Northern Cardinal

Share of checklists at the peak

Cass CountyBest mid May · 950 checklists that week, 21,161 in all31%
Grand Forks CountyBest the second week of May · 792 checklists that week, 15,255 in all17%
Richland CountyBest the second week of May · 77 checklists that week, 1,563 in all16%
Pierce CountyBest mid February · 10 checklists that week, 403 in all6.3%
Traill CountyBest early November · 19 checklists that week, 764 in all3.2%
Morton CountyBest late August · 90 checklists that week, 3,404 in all2.6%

All cardinals, grosbeaks & buntings in North Dakota

7 species are reported regularly: 5 are summer visitors and 2 mostly pass through.

#	Species	Pattern	First arrivals	Peak	Peak %
1	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Summer visitor	May 1-7	May 15-21	17%
2	Lazuli Bunting	Summer visitor	May 15-21	Jun 22-30	9.6%
3	Northern Cardinal	Summer visitor	Jul 1-7	May 8-14	8.5%
4	Dickcissel	Passes through	Jun 1-7	Jul 1-7	6.7%
5	Black-headed Grosbeak	Summer visitor	May 1-7	May 22-31	4.7%
6	Indigo Bunting	Summer visitor	May 8-14	May 22-31	3.8%
7	Scarlet Tanager	Passes through	May 8-14	May 22-31	1.5%

Common questions

When do cardinals arrive in North Dakota?: Northern Cardinals reach North Dakota in early July, are common by early August, peak in the second week of May (8.5% of checklists), and most are gone by early June.
When do cardinals leave North Dakota?: Most Northern Cardinals have left North Dakota by early June, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of June.
When is the best time to see cardinals in North Dakota?: The Northern Cardinal is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 8.5% of North Dakota checklists.