When do grackles and blackbirds leave Virginia?

Common Grackles never fully leave Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.

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

The Common Grackle is reported most often in mid May, on about 38% of Virginia checklists.

Which grackles and blackbirds are in Virginia?

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

6 blackbird species in Virginia

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in Virginia?

Photo: Derek Spencer, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Brown-headed Cowbirds are the grackles and blackbirds you are most likely to see in Virginia. Common Grackles are in Virginia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in mid May (38% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (mid December) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 1-7early March

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Fall back byJul 15-21mid July

FewestDec 15-21mid December

Best: mid May. Here all year; numbers build from early March and fall back by mid July. Peak: on about 38% of Virginia checklists.

Janrare
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepuncommon
Octuncommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Grackles and blackbirds in Virginia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Common Grackle	Mar 1-7	Mar 1-7	May 15-21	Jul 15-21	38%
Red-winged Blackbird	Feb 15-21	Feb 15-21	Apr 15-21	Jul 15-21	35%
Brown-headed Cowbird	Mar 22-31	Mar 22-31	Apr 22-30	Jul 1-7	30%
Eastern Meadowlark	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	Jun 8-14	Aug 8-14	8.9%
Rusty Blackbird	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Mar 22-31	Apr 22-30	2.5%
Bobolink	Aug 15-21	Aug 15-21	Sep 8-14	Oct 8-14	1.7%

Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Common Grackle

Share of checklists at the peak

Hopewell CountyBest early June · 51 checklists that week, 3,116 in all95%
Colonial Heights CountyBest mid May · 26 checklists that week, 889 in all89%
Emporia CountyBest mid April · 11 checklists that week, 295 in all80%
Covington CountyBest late May · 13 checklists that week, 217 in all79%
Falls Church CountyBest mid May · 49 checklists that week, 1,687 in all76%
Winchester CountyBest late May · 145 checklists that week, 4,815 in all75%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in Virginia?: Common Grackles are in Virginia all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from early March, peak in mid May (38% of checklists), and fall back by mid July. In the quietest week (mid December) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave Virginia?: Common Grackles never fully leave Virginia: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid July, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in Virginia?: The Common Grackle is reported most often in mid May, on about 38% of Virginia checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in Virginia?: Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, and Bobolink are reported regularly; the Common Grackle is the most common.