When do grackles and blackbirds leave Hawaii?

Most Western Meadowlarks have left Hawaii by mid June, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Hawaii?

The Western Meadowlark is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 2.7% of Hawaii checklists.

Western Meadowlark · Sturnella neglecta

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Hawaii?

Photo: Aiva Noringseth, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Western Meadowlarks are winter birds in Hawaii: they arrive in late September, peak in the second week of December (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June. They are the only regular blackbirds in Hawaii.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common bySep 22-30late September

PeakDec 8-14the second week of December

Most gone byJun 15-21mid June

Best: the second week of December. First arrivals late September; most are gone by mid June. Peak: on about 2.7% of Hawaii checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Hawaii, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Western Meadowlark	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Dec 8-14	Jun 15-21	2.7%

Western Meadowlark

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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii

Best counties for Western Meadowlark

Share of checklists at the peak

Kauai CountyBest late January · 1221 checklists that week, 32,543 in all14%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Hawaii?: Western Meadowlarks are winter birds in Hawaii: they arrive in late September, peak in the second week of December (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by mid June. They are the only regular blackbirds in Hawaii.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Hawaii?: Most Western Meadowlarks have left Hawaii by mid June, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Hawaii?: The Western Meadowlark is reported most often in the second week of December, on about 2.7% of Hawaii checklists.