WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Kentucky

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Kentucky: they arrive in the second week of April, peak in early May (18% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 8-14the second week of April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 18% of Kentucky 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. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 8-14May 1-7May 22-3118%
Blue GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30Jul 22-31Sep 1-79.8%
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Butler CountyBest early May · 11 checklists that week, 267 in all56%
  2. Allen CountyBest the second week of May · 55 checklists that week, 2,170 in all50%
  3. Harlan CountyBest mid September · 16 checklists that week, 318 in all45%
  4. Muhlenberg CountyBest late September · 22 checklists that week, 1,263 in all43%
  5. McCreary CountyBest early October · 15 checklists that week, 847 in all40%
  6. Larue CountyBest early May · 41 checklists that week, 1,047 in all39%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Kentucky?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through Kentucky: they arrive in the second week of April, peak in early May (18% of checklists), and most are gone by late May.
When do grosbeaks leave Kentucky?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Kentucky by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Kentucky?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in early May, on about 18% of Kentucky checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Kentucky?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.