WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Maryland

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Maryland?

Adult male Blue Grosbeak
Photo: John Rosford, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Blue Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Maryland. Blue Grosbeaks reach Maryland in mid April, are common by early May, peak in the second week of August (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakAug 8-14the second week of August
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

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

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Maryland, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Blue GrosbeakApr 15-21May 1-7Aug 8-14Sep 15-2111%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakAug 15-21Aug 15-21Sep 22-30Oct 15-217.5%
0%5%10%15%Blue GrosbeakRose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • 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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Blue Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Caroline CountyBest the second week of June · 402 checklists that week, 11,067 in all35%
  2. Talbot CountyBest the second week of August · 449 checklists that week, 31,140 in all35%
  3. Queen Anne's CountyBest the second week of July · 322 checklists that week, 26,875 in all35%
  4. Wicomico CountyBest mid July · 176 checklists that week, 12,356 in all32%
  5. Dorchester CountyBest early July · 413 checklists that week, 26,161 in all31%
  6. Kent CountyBest the second week of June · 286 checklists that week, 13,396 in all31%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Maryland?
Blue Grosbeaks reach Maryland in mid April, are common by early May, peak in the second week of August (11% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do grosbeaks leave Maryland?
Most Blue Grosbeaks have left Maryland by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Maryland?
The Blue Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 11% of Maryland checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Maryland?
Blue Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Blue Grosbeak is the most common.