WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Montana

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Montana?

Adult Black-headed Grosbeak
Photo: Dan Vickers, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Black-headed Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Montana. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Montana in the second week of May, are common by mid May, peak in early June (16% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 8-14the second week of May
Common byMay 15-21mid May
PeakJun 1-7early June
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: early June. First arrivals the second week of May; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 16% of Montana checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprnot usually seen
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Montana, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakMay 8-14May 15-21Jun 1-7Aug 8-1416%
Evening GrosbeakMay 1-7May 1-7May 22-31Jun 8-1414%
0%5%10%15%20%Black-headed GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed 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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Custer CountyBest early June · 53 checklists that week, 1,404 in all37%
  2. Ravalli CountyBest the second week of June · 392 checklists that week, 16,671 in all28%
  3. Gallatin CountyBest early June · 1855 checklists that week, 66,365 in all26%
  4. Missoula CountyBest early June · 1741 checklists that week, 64,368 in all26%
  5. Wibaux CountyBest late May · 56 checklists that week, 435 in all25%
  6. Fergus CountyBest early June · 270 checklists that week, 4,948 in all20%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Montana?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Montana in the second week of May, are common by mid May, peak in early June (16% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do grosbeaks leave Montana?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Montana by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Montana?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in early June, on about 16% of Montana checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Montana?
Black-headed Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.