When do grackles and blackbirds leave Michigan?

Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Michigan by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid November.

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

The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in early May, on about 68% of Michigan checklists.

Which grackles and blackbirds are in Michigan?

Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, and Bobolink are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.

6 blackbird species in Michigan

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Michigan?

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 Michigan. Red-winged Blackbirds reach Michigan in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in early May (68% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February

Common byMar 1-7early March

PeakMay 1-7early May

Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 68% of Michigan checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decnot usually seen

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Michigan, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Red-winged Blackbird	Feb 8-14	Mar 1-7	May 1-7	Oct 15-21	68%
Common Grackle	Feb 15-21	Mar 1-7	May 8-14	Sep 1-7	45%
Brown-headed Cowbird	Mar 1-7	Mar 22-31	May 1-7	Jul 8-14	36%
Eastern Meadowlark	Mar 1-7	Mar 15-21	Jun 8-14	Jul 15-21	6.7%
Rusty Blackbird	Sep 15-21	Sep 15-21	Oct 15-21	Nov 15-21	5.0%
Bobolink	May 1-7	May 8-14	Jun 8-14	Jul 8-14	4.9%

Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eastern 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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Bay CountyBest early June · 432 checklists that week, 16,522 in all86%
Clinton CountyBest early June · 186 checklists that week, 10,597 in all85%
Lapeer CountyBest late April · 985 checklists that week, 22,489 in all85%
Ionia CountyBest early May · 229 checklists that week, 5,509 in all84%
Gratiot CountyBest the second week of April · 153 checklists that week, 5,892 in all83%
Mecosta CountyBest the second week of May · 423 checklists that week, 11,248 in all83%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Michigan?: Red-winged Blackbirds reach Michigan in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in early May (68% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Michigan?: Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Michigan by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid November.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Michigan?: The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in early May, on about 68% of Michigan checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Michigan?: Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, and Bobolink are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.