WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Maine

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Maine?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Maine. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Maine in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 13% of Maine checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  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 Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 15-2113%
Evening GrosbeakOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 22-30May 8-142.8%
0%5%10%15%20%Rose-breasted GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Evening 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 Maine 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 Maine

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Waldo CountyBest mid May · 1075 checklists that week, 33,433 in all22%
  2. Franklin CountyBest the second week of May · 416 checklists that week, 14,182 in all21%
  3. Androscoggin CountyBest mid May · 675 checklists that week, 16,955 in all21%
  4. Aroostook CountyBest mid May · 507 checklists that week, 16,817 in all19%
  5. Lincoln CountyBest mid May · 2206 checklists that week, 59,429 in all19%
  6. Kennebec CountyBest mid May · 1704 checklists that week, 48,185 in all18%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Maine?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Maine in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do grosbeaks leave Maine?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Maine 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 Maine?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 13% of Maine checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Maine?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.