WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in North Carolina

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in North Carolina?

Adult male Blue Grosbeak
Photo: John Rosford, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Blue Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in North Carolina. Blue Grosbeaks reach North Carolina in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in mid July (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakJul 15-21mid July
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: mid July. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 15% of North Carolina checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in North Carolina, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Blue GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 22-30Jul 15-21Sep 8-1415%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 8-14Apr 8-14Sep 22-30Oct 22-3113%
0%5%10%15%20%Blue GrosbeakRose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Blue 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for Blue Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Bladen CountyBest late August · 61 checklists that week, 3,758 in all72%
  2. Gates CountyBest mid July · 53 checklists that week, 4,066 in all60%
  3. Scotland CountyBest the second week of July · 60 checklists that week, 3,267 in all59%
  4. Anson CountyBest early August · 20 checklists that week, 2,224 in all58%
  5. Jones CountyBest the second week of August · 18 checklists that week, 2,012 in all57%
  6. Washington CountyBest early August · 17 checklists that week, 3,065 in all52%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in North Carolina?
Blue Grosbeaks reach North Carolina in the second week of April, are common by late April, peak in mid July (15% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do grosbeaks leave North Carolina?
Most Blue Grosbeaks have left North Carolina by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of October.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in North Carolina?
The Blue Grosbeak is reported most often in mid July, on about 15% of North Carolina checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in North Carolina?
Blue Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Blue Grosbeak is the most common.