When do grosbeaks leave District of Columbia?

Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left District of Columbia by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.

When is the best time to see grosbeaks in District of Columbia?

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in late September, on about 20% of District of Columbia checklists.

Which grosbeaks are in District of Columbia?

Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.

2 grosbeak species in District of Columbia

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in District of Columbia?

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 District of Columbia. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through District of Columbia: they arrive in early September, peak in late September (20% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 1-7early September

Common bySep 1-7early September

PeakSep 22-30late September

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: late September. First arrivals early September; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 20% of District of Columbia checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augrare
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in District of Columbia, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Sep 1-7	Sep 1-7	Sep 22-30	Oct 8-14	20%
Blue Grosbeak	Apr 22-30	Apr 22-30	Jul 8-14	Sep 1-7	4.5%

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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak

District of Columbia CountyBest late September · 3393 checklists that week, 121,721 in all20%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in District of Columbia?: Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through District of Columbia: they arrive in early September, peak in late September (20% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October.
When do grosbeaks leave District of Columbia?: Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left District of Columbia by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid October.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in District of Columbia?: The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in late September, on about 20% of District of Columbia checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in District of Columbia?: Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.