WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Ohio

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Ohio?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Ohio in mid April, peak in the second week of May (22% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are by far the most reported grosbeaks in Ohio.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 22% of Ohio checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Ohio, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 15-21May 8-14Oct 1-722%
Blue GrosbeakMay 15-21May 15-21Jul 22-31Aug 22-311.7%
0%10%20%30%Rose-breasted GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Blue 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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Geauga CountyBest the second week of May · 1740 checklists that week, 43,812 in all56%
  2. Trumbull CountyBest mid May · 560 checklists that week, 21,066 in all50%
  3. Morrow CountyBest the second week of May · 152 checklists that week, 3,725 in all45%
  4. Putnam CountyBest the second week of May · 65 checklists that week, 927 in all43%
  5. Knox CountyBest the second week of May · 426 checklists that week, 11,651 in all41%
  6. Ashtabula CountyBest the second week of May · 510 checklists that week, 12,390 in all40%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Ohio?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Ohio in mid April, peak in the second week of May (22% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are by far the most reported grosbeaks in Ohio.
When do grosbeaks leave Ohio?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Ohio by early October, 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 Ohio?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 22% of Ohio checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Ohio?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.