WhenToBird

6 blackbird species in Maine

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Maine?

Adult male Red-winged Blackbird
Photo: infiniteuniverse, CC0 1.0 via iNaturalist

Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and Brown-headed Cowbirds are the grackles and blackbirds you are most likely to see in Maine. Red-winged Blackbirds reach Maine in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (41% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 22-28late February
Common byMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byJul 22-31late July

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late February; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 41% of Maine checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Seprare
  10. Octrare
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Red-winged BlackbirdFeb 22-28Mar 8-14May 8-14Jul 22-3141%
Common GrackleMar 1-7Mar 15-21May 8-14Jul 15-2128%
Brown-headed CowbirdMar 8-14Mar 22-31May 1-7Jun 22-3012%
BobolinkMay 1-7May 1-7May 22-31Sep 1-78.0%
Rusty BlackbirdSep 8-14Sep 8-14Oct 1-7Nov 15-211.4%
Eastern MeadowlarkMar 22-31Mar 22-31Apr 22-30Jul 15-211.1%
0%20%40%60%Red-winged BlackbirdCommon GrackleBrown-headed CowbirdBobolinkJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Common Grackle
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Bobolink
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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Kennebec CountyBest the second week of May · 1947 checklists that week, 48,185 in all51%
  2. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of May · 1602 checklists that week, 59,429 in all51%
  3. Penobscot CountyBest late April · 2080 checklists that week, 56,895 in all50%
  4. Cumberland CountyBest the second week of May · 8112 checklists that week, 169,501 in all48%
  5. York CountyBest early May · 3100 checklists that week, 101,844 in all48%
  6. Aroostook CountyBest mid April · 271 checklists that week, 16,817 in all47%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Maine?
Red-winged Blackbirds reach Maine in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (41% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Maine?
Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Maine by late July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Maine?
The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 41% of Maine checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Maine?
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird, and Eastern Meadowlark are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.