When do grackles and blackbirds leave Rhode Island?

Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Rhode Island by early August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.

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

The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in late April, on about 59% of Rhode Island checklists.

Which grackles and blackbirds are in Rhode Island?

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

6 blackbird species in Rhode Island

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island. Red-winged Blackbirds reach Rhode Island in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in late April (59% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 8-14the second week of February

Common byMar 1-7early March

PeakApr 22-30late April

Most gone byAug 1-7early August

Best: late April. First arrivals the second week of February; most are gone by early August. Peak: on about 59% of Rhode Island checklists.

Janrare
Febcommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augcommon
Seprare
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Rhode Island, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Red-winged Blackbird	Feb 8-14	Mar 1-7	Apr 22-30	Aug 1-7	59%
Common Grackle	Feb 1-7	Mar 1-7	Jun 8-14	Aug 8-14	49%
Brown-headed Cowbird	Feb 22-28	Mar 22-31	Apr 22-30	Jul 8-14	35%
Bobolink	May 1-7	May 1-7	Sep 8-14	Oct 8-14	4.7%
Eastern Meadowlark	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Nov 1-7	Apr 1-7	1.6%
Rusty Blackbird	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Oct 15-21	Apr 15-21	1.2%

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak

Bristol CountyBest late May · 462 checklists that week, 15,899 in all79%
Newport CountyBest the second week of June · 409 checklists that week, 33,574 in all65%
Washington CountyBest late April · 2376 checklists that week, 65,038 in all63%
Providence CountyBest late April · 1311 checklists that week, 40,898 in all56%
Kent CountyBest mid June · 328 checklists that week, 16,966 in all52%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Rhode Island?: Red-winged Blackbirds reach Rhode Island in the second week of February, are common by early March, peak in late April (59% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Rhode Island?: Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left Rhode Island by early August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Rhode Island?: The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in late April, on about 59% of Rhode Island checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Rhode Island?: Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, and Rusty Blackbird are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.