When do grosbeaks leave New Hampshire?

Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left New Hampshire by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.

When is the best time to see grosbeaks in New Hampshire?

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 20% of New Hampshire checklists.

Which grosbeaks are in New Hampshire?

Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.

2 grosbeak species in New Hampshire

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in New Hampshire?

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 New Hampshire. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach New Hampshire in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (20% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April

Common byMay 1-7early May

PeakMay 15-21mid May

Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

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

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Apruncommon
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julcommon
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in New Hampshire, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Apr 22-30	May 1-7	May 15-21	Sep 8-14	20%
Evening Grosbeak	Oct 15-21	Oct 15-21	Dec 8-14	May 8-14	3.8%

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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak

Strafford CountyBest mid May · 1341 checklists that week, 41,888 in all38%
Cheshire CountyBest mid May · 1135 checklists that week, 39,834 in all26%
Merrimack CountyBest mid May · 1207 checklists that week, 36,980 in all21%
Rockingham CountyBest mid May · 2693 checklists that week, 84,864 in all18%
Hillsborough CountyBest mid May · 1647 checklists that week, 50,125 in all18%
Sullivan CountyBest mid May · 493 checklists that week, 13,105 in all16%

Common questions

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