WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Minnesota

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Minnesota?

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 Minnesota. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Minnesota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (26% 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 26% of Minnesota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octrare
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 15-2126%
Evening GrosbeakDec 1-7Dec 1-7Feb 1-7Mar 1-73.0%
0%10%20%30%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Wabasha CountyBest late July · 143 checklists that week, 6,548 in all54%
  2. Fillmore CountyBest mid May · 155 checklists that week, 3,791 in all54%
  3. Todd CountyBest early July · 101 checklists that week, 4,802 in all53%
  4. Steele CountyBest late May · 224 checklists that week, 4,784 in all50%
  5. Houston CountyBest the second week of May · 262 checklists that week, 4,754 in all50%
  6. Renville CountyBest mid May · 75 checklists that week, 2,020 in all46%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Minnesota?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Minnesota in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (26% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do grosbeaks leave Minnesota?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 26% of Minnesota checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Minnesota?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.