WhenToBird

8 blackbird species in Minnesota

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Minnesota?

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

Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Common Grackles are the grackles and blackbirds you are most likely to see in Minnesota. Red-winged Blackbirds reach Minnesota in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (61% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals early March; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 61% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Marcommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Red-winged BlackbirdMar 1-7Mar 8-14May 8-14Aug 8-1461%
Brown-headed CowbirdApr 1-7Apr 15-21May 8-14Jul 8-1437%
Common GrackleMar 1-7Mar 15-21May 15-21Oct 8-1436%
BobolinkMay 1-7May 15-21Jun 8-14Jul 8-146.7%
Rusty BlackbirdSep 15-21Sep 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 22-305.0%
Yellow-headed BlackbirdApr 8-14Apr 15-21Jun 1-7Aug 1-74.9%
Eastern MeadowlarkMar 15-21Mar 22-31Jun 8-14Jul 22-314.6%
Western MeadowlarkMar 15-21Mar 15-21Jun 15-21Aug 8-142.5%
0%20%40%60%80%Red-winged BlackbirdBrown-headed CowbirdCommon GrackleBobolinkJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Common Grackle
  • 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wilkin CountyBest early July · 26 checklists that week, 1,101 in all86%
  2. Lincoln CountyBest the second week of June · 28 checklists that week, 1,063 in all85%
  3. Waseca CountyBest the second week of June · 40 checklists that week, 1,630 in all85%
  4. Watonwan CountyBest the second week of June · 69 checklists that week, 2,407 in all82%
  5. Steele CountyBest early June · 135 checklists that week, 4,784 in all81%
  6. Le Sueur CountyBest mid June · 104 checklists that week, 5,034 in all81%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Minnesota?
Red-winged Blackbirds reach Minnesota in early March, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (61% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Minnesota?
Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Minnesota by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Minnesota?
The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 61% of Minnesota checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Minnesota?
Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, and Western Meadowlark are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.