WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Arkansas

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Arkansas?

Adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Photo: Nancy Overholtz, CC BY-SA 4.0 via iNaturalist

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Blue Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Arkansas. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Arkansas: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 19% of Arkansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junnot usually seen
  7. Julnot usually seen
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Seprare
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Arkansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 1-7May 8-1419%
Blue GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 15-21May 8-14Sep 1-711%
0%10%20%30%Rose-breasted GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Yell CountyBest early May · 45 checklists that week, 2,585 in all39%
  2. Van Buren CountyBest early May · 34 checklists that week, 895 in all38%
  3. Carroll CountyBest early May · 159 checklists that week, 3,417 in all38%
  4. Ashley CountyBest late April · 31 checklists that week, 484 in all32%
  5. Garland CountyBest early May · 370 checklists that week, 12,778 in all27%
  6. Randolph CountyBest early May · 51 checklists that week, 588 in all27%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Arkansas?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Arkansas: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May.
When do grosbeaks leave Arkansas?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Arkansas by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid May.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Arkansas?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in early May, on about 19% of Arkansas checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Arkansas?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.