WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Kansas

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Kansas?

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 Kansas. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Kansas: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May.

When to look

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

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by mid May. Peak: on about 11% of Kansas checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junrare
  7. Julrare
  8. Augnot usually seen
  9. Seprare
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Kansas, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14May 15-2111%
Blue GrosbeakApr 22-30May 8-14Aug 1-7Aug 22-317.5%
0%5%10%15%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 Kansas 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 Kansas

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Osborne CountyBest the second week of June · 12 checklists that week, 255 in all27%
  2. Leavenworth CountyBest the second week of May · 368 checklists that week, 9,065 in all26%
  3. Jewell CountyBest the second week of May · 50 checklists that week, 612 in all22%
  4. Franklin CountyBest the second week of May · 109 checklists that week, 2,039 in all22%
  5. Jackson CountyBest the second week of May · 87 checklists that week, 2,012 in all22%
  6. Cherokee CountyBest early May · 189 checklists that week, 1,859 in all21%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Kansas?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Kansas: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May.
When do grosbeaks leave Kansas?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Kansas by mid May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Kansas?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 11% of Kansas checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Kansas?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.