WhenToBird

4 grosbeak species in New Mexico

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in New Mexico?

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

Black-headed Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in New Mexico. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach New Mexico in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byAug 22-31late August

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late August. Peak: on about 29% of New Mexico checklists.

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

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 15-21Aug 22-3129%
Blue GrosbeakMay 1-7May 8-14Aug 8-14Sep 15-2120%
Evening GrosbeakJul 15-21Jul 22-31May 1-7Jun 1-74.4%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30Apr 22-30May 8-14May 15-211.8%
0%10%20%30%40%Black-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakRose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Evening Grosbeak
  • Rose-breasted 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 Mexico 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 Mexico

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. San Miguel CountyBest mid May · 267 checklists that week, 8,857 in all42%
  2. Grant CountyBest mid May · 530 checklists that week, 16,662 in all41%
  3. Los Alamos CountyBest mid May · 1303 checklists that week, 50,554 in all39%
  4. Catron CountyBest mid May · 218 checklists that week, 6,114 in all38%
  5. Cibola CountyBest mid June · 93 checklists that week, 3,986 in all38%
  6. Roosevelt CountyBest the second week of May · 315 checklists that week, 4,563 in all37%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in New Mexico?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach New Mexico in mid April, are common by late April, peak in mid May (29% of checklists), and most are gone by late August.
When do grosbeaks leave New Mexico?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left New Mexico by late August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in New Mexico?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 29% of New Mexico checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in New Mexico?
Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.