WhenToBird

6 blackbird species in West Virginia

When Do Grackles and blackbirds Arrive in West Virginia?

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 West Virginia. Red-winged Blackbirds reach West Virginia in early February, are common by late February, peak in mid April (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.

When to look

First arrivalsFeb 1-7early February
Common byFeb 22-28late February
PeakApr 15-21mid April
Most gone byAug 1-7early August

Best: mid April. First arrivals early February; most are gone by early August. Peak: on about 45% of West Virginia checklists.

  1. Janrare
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Grackles and blackbirds in West Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Red-winged BlackbirdFeb 1-7Feb 22-28Apr 15-21Aug 1-745%
Common GrackleFeb 8-14Mar 1-7May 15-21Aug 1-731%
Brown-headed CowbirdFeb 22-28Mar 22-31Apr 15-21Jul 1-730%
Eastern MeadowlarkJan 22-31Mar 1-7May 22-31Oct 15-2111%
BobolinkApr 22-30Apr 22-30Jun 1-7Aug 22-314.5%
Rusty BlackbirdOct 8-14Oct 8-14Nov 8-14Dec 22-311.6%
0%20%40%60%Red-winged BlackbirdCommon GrackleBrown-headed CowbirdEastern MeadowlarkJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 West 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 West Virginia

Best counties for Red-winged Blackbird

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Barbour CountyBest early July · 49 checklists that week, 1,534 in all84%
  2. Wetzel CountyBest early May · 35 checklists that week, 1,196 in all81%
  3. Mineral CountyBest late March · 84 checklists that week, 2,389 in all80%
  4. Ritchie CountyBest the second week of April · 105 checklists that week, 3,552 in all76%
  5. Mason CountyBest late May · 84 checklists that week, 2,835 in all75%
  6. Jackson CountyBest late April · 48 checklists that week, 1,317 in all72%

Common questions

When do grackles and blackbirds arrive in West Virginia?
Red-winged Blackbirds reach West Virginia in early February, are common by late February, peak in mid April (45% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.
When do grackles and blackbirds leave West Virginia?
Most Red-winged Blackbirds have left West Virginia by early August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of December.
When is the best time to see grackles and blackbirds in West Virginia?
The Red-winged Blackbird is reported most often in mid April, on about 45% of West Virginia checklists.
Which grackles and blackbirds are in West Virginia?
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, and Rusty Blackbird are reported regularly; the Red-winged Blackbird is the most common.