WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Arizona

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Arizona?

Adult Black-headed Grosbeak
Photo: Dan Vickers, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Black-headed Grosbeaks and Blue Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Arizona. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Arizona in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (29% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 29% of Arizona checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Arizona, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 8-14Sep 15-2129%
Blue GrosbeakMay 1-7May 15-21Aug 8-14Sep 15-2119%
0%10%20%30%Black-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak
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 Arizona 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 Arizona

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Santa Cruz CountyBest the second week of May · 4797 checklists that week, 162,726 in all50%
  2. Cochise CountyBest mid May · 6067 checklists that week, 190,093 in all48%
  3. Gila CountyBest the second week of May · 760 checklists that week, 14,834 in all37%
  4. Yavapai CountyBest the second week of May · 2442 checklists that week, 83,606 in all31%
  5. Coconino CountyBest mid May · 2687 checklists that week, 90,870 in all29%
  6. Navajo CountyBest mid May · 527 checklists that week, 18,838 in all27%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Arizona?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Arizona in the second week of April, are common by mid April, peak in the second week of May (29% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do grosbeaks leave Arizona?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Arizona by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Arizona?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 29% of Arizona checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Arizona?
Black-headed Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.