WhenToBird

2 blackbird species in Alaska

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Alaska?

Adult female Rusty Blackbird
Photo: Carol Ann Vermeer, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Rusty Blackbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds are the grackles and blackbirds you are most likely to see in Alaska. Rusty Blackbirds reach Alaska in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (4.5% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 4.5% of Alaska checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febrare
  3. Marrare
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decrare

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Alaska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rusty BlackbirdApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Oct 1-74.5%
Red-winged BlackbirdMar 8-14Mar 8-14May 22-31Sep 22-301.2%
0%2%4%6%Rusty BlackbirdRed-winged BlackbirdJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rusty Blackbird
  • Red-winged Blackbird
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 Alaska 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 Alaska

Best counties for Rusty Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Southeast Fairbanks Census AreaBest the second week of May · 66 checklists that week, 3,009 in all22%
  2. Fairbanks North Star BoroughBest mid May · 1695 checklists that week, 23,771 in all17%
  3. Copper River Census AreaBest the second week of May · 212 checklists that week, 3,467 in all15%
  4. Yukon-Koyukuk Census AreaBest mid May · 90 checklists that week, 2,835 in all15%
  5. Northwest Arctic BoroughBest early August · 72 checklists that week, 1,386 in all11%
  6. Bethel Census AreaBest the second week of August · 53 checklists that week, 2,783 in all10%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Alaska?
Rusty Blackbirds reach Alaska in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (4.5% of checklists), and most are gone by early October.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Alaska?
Most Rusty Blackbirds have left Alaska by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Alaska?
The Rusty Blackbird is reported most often in mid May, on about 4.5% of Alaska checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Alaska?
Rusty Blackbird and Red-winged Blackbird are reported regularly; the Rusty Blackbird is the most common.