WhenToBird

Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Pheucticus ludovicianus

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Connecticut?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Connecticut in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular grosbeaks in Connecticut.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 22% of Connecticut checklists.

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

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

Grosbeaks in Connecticut, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14Sep 15-2122%
0%10%20%30%Rose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Windham CountyBest mid May · 1029 checklists that week, 19,034 in all33%
  2. Litchfield CountyBest the second week of May · 2528 checklists that week, 69,766 in all31%
  3. Tolland CountyBest mid May · 1241 checklists that week, 39,004 in all26%
  4. New Haven CountyBest the second week of May · 5629 checklists that week, 139,721 in all24%
  5. Hartford CountyBest the second week of May · 4171 checklists that week, 105,735 in all23%
  6. Middlesex CountyBest the second week of May · 1592 checklists that week, 39,919 in all21%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Connecticut?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Connecticut in mid April, are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (22% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular grosbeaks in Connecticut.
When do grosbeaks leave Connecticut?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 22% of Connecticut checklists.