WhenToBird

7 blackbird species in South Dakota

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in South Dakota?

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 South Dakota. Red-winged Blackbirds reach South Dakota in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (54% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.

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 byAug 1-7early August

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late February; most are gone by early August. Peak: on about 54% of South Dakota checklists.

  1. Janrare
  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. Decrare

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

Grackles and blackbirds in South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Red-winged BlackbirdFeb 22-28Mar 8-14May 8-14Aug 1-754%
Common GrackleMar 1-7Mar 15-21May 8-14Oct 1-753%
Brown-headed CowbirdApr 1-7Apr 15-21May 15-21Jul 15-2136%
Western MeadowlarkMar 1-7Mar 15-21Jun 1-7Oct 8-1433%
Yellow-headed BlackbirdMar 22-31Apr 8-14May 1-7Aug 22-3117%
BobolinkMay 1-7May 8-14May 22-31Jul 8-148.4%
Rusty BlackbirdOct 8-14Oct 8-14Nov 1-7Jan 8-142.7%
0%20%40%60%Red-winged BlackbirdCommon GrackleBrown-headed CowbirdWestern MeadowlarkJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Common Grackle
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Hyde CountyBest late May · 10 checklists that week, 241 in all90%
  2. Jones CountyBest late June · 16 checklists that week, 425 in all89%
  3. Kingsbury CountyBest late May · 12 checklists that week, 300 in all88%
  4. Deuel CountyBest early June · 15 checklists that week, 444 in all87%
  5. Grant CountyBest the second week of June · 16 checklists that week, 414 in all84%
  6. Bennett CountyBest early June · 44 checklists that week, 575 in all84%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in South Dakota?
Red-winged Blackbirds reach South Dakota in late February, are common by the second week of March, peak in the second week of May (54% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave South Dakota?
Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left South Dakota by early August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early December.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in South Dakota?
The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 54% of South Dakota checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in South Dakota?
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Western Meadowlark, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Bobolink, and Rusty Blackbird are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.