WhenToBird

4 grosbeak species in Colorado

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Colorado?

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

Black-headed Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Colorado. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Colorado in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byAug 15-21mid August

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid August. Peak: on about 16% of Colorado checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Colorado, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 22-31Aug 15-2116%
Blue GrosbeakMay 8-14May 15-21Aug 8-14Sep 8-146.2%
Evening GrosbeakJul 1-7Jul 15-21Aug 8-14Jun 8-143.0%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakMay 1-7May 1-7May 8-14Jun 1-71.3%
0%5%10%15%20%Black-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakRose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Rose-breasted 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 Colorado 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 Colorado

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Huerfano CountyBest late May · 315 checklists that week, 3,008 in all49%
  2. La Plata CountyBest late May · 1002 checklists that week, 21,744 in all44%
  3. Las Animas CountyBest late May · 254 checklists that week, 3,491 in all39%
  4. Teller CountyBest early June · 279 checklists that week, 11,258 in all37%
  5. Custer CountyBest the second week of June · 137 checklists that week, 3,017 in all37%
  6. Dolores CountyBest late May · 95 checklists that week, 2,000 in all35%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Colorado?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Colorado in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (16% of checklists), and most are gone by mid August.
When do grosbeaks leave Colorado?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Colorado by mid August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Colorado?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in late May, on about 16% of Colorado checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Colorado?
Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.