WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Oregon

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Oregon?

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

Black-headed Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Oregon. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Oregon in mid April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (32% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August

Best: mid May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 32% of Oregon 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. Seprare
  10. Octnot usually seen
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Oregon, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 15-21May 1-7May 15-21Aug 8-1432%
Evening GrosbeakMar 22-31Apr 1-7May 8-14Oct 22-3110%
0%10%20%30%40%Black-headed GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed 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 Oregon 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 Oregon

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Columbia CountyBest late June · 487 checklists that week, 27,750 in all61%
  2. Yamhill CountyBest late May · 389 checklists that week, 11,537 in all60%
  3. Benton CountyBest late May · 3731 checklists that week, 144,626 in all50%
  4. Washington CountyBest late May · 3546 checklists that week, 110,376 in all47%
  5. Polk CountyBest early June · 529 checklists that week, 29,096 in all42%
  6. Clackamas CountyBest late May · 1679 checklists that week, 50,929 in all42%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Oregon?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Oregon in mid April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (32% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do grosbeaks leave Oregon?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Oregon by the second week of August, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Oregon?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 32% of Oregon checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Oregon?
Black-headed Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.