WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Michigan

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Michigan?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Michigan in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (35% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are by far the most reported grosbeaks in Michigan.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 35% of Michigan checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  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 Michigan, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 15-21Sep 15-2135%
Evening GrosbeakOct 15-21Oct 15-21Nov 1-7Aug 8-141.5%
0%10%20%30%40%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 Michigan 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 Michigan

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Ogemaw CountyBest the second week of September · 88 checklists that week, 4,675 in all67%
  2. Otsego CountyBest mid May · 195 checklists that week, 7,286 in all61%
  3. Mecosta CountyBest mid May · 306 checklists that week, 11,248 in all61%
  4. Ionia CountyBest mid May · 151 checklists that week, 5,509 in all56%
  5. Wexford CountyBest mid May · 168 checklists that week, 5,111 in all54%
  6. Missaukee CountyBest mid May · 110 checklists that week, 2,151 in all53%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Michigan?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Michigan in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (35% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are by far the most reported grosbeaks in Michigan.
When do grosbeaks leave Michigan?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Michigan 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 Michigan?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 35% of Michigan checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Michigan?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.