WhenToBird

3 grosbeak species in Nebraska

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Nebraska?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, and Black-headed Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Nebraska. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Nebraska in late April, peak in the second week of May (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid July.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byJul 15-21mid July

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid July. Peak: on about 20% of Nebraska checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  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 Nebraska, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30Apr 22-30May 8-14Jul 15-2120%
Blue GrosbeakMay 8-14May 22-31Aug 1-7Sep 1-76.5%
Black-headed GrosbeakMay 1-7May 1-7Jun 1-7Jul 8-142.9%
0%10%20%30%Rose-breasted GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakBlack-headed GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Black-headed 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Dixon CountyBest late May · 107 checklists that week, 1,619 in all57%
  2. Thurston CountyBest mid May · 32 checklists that week, 237 in all54%
  3. Nemaha CountyBest mid May · 103 checklists that week, 883 in all48%
  4. Richardson CountyBest the second week of May · 61 checklists that week, 788 in all47%
  5. Sarpy CountyBest mid May · 701 checklists that week, 14,942 in all44%
  6. Washington CountyBest mid May · 124 checklists that week, 3,482 in all40%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Nebraska?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Nebraska in late April, peak in the second week of May (20% of checklists), and most are gone by mid July.
When do grosbeaks leave Nebraska?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Nebraska by mid July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Nebraska?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 20% of Nebraska checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Nebraska?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, and Black-headed Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.