WhenToBird

3 grosbeak species in South Dakota

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in South Dakota?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and Blue Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in South Dakota. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through South Dakota: the first show up in late April, they are common by early May, peak in mid May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone byJul 8-14the second week of July

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by the second week of July. Peak: on about 13% of South Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  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 South Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Jul 8-1413%
Black-headed GrosbeakMay 1-7May 8-14Jun 1-7Jul 15-2111%
Blue GrosbeakMay 15-21May 22-31Aug 1-7Aug 22-315.8%
0%5%10%15%20%Rose-breasted GrosbeakBlack-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Black-headed 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Lincoln CountyBest late May · 142 checklists that week, 2,721 in all59%
  2. Sanborn CountyBest mid May · 31 checklists that week, 748 in all53%
  3. Union CountyBest mid May · 99 checklists that week, 882 in all50%
  4. Roberts CountyBest mid May · 155 checklists that week, 3,523 in all37%
  5. Clay CountyBest mid May · 153 checklists that week, 2,633 in all32%
  6. Gregory CountyBest early June · 15 checklists that week, 472 in all28%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in South Dakota?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks mostly pass through South Dakota: the first show up in late April, they are common by early May, peak in mid May (13% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of July.
When do grosbeaks leave South Dakota?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left South Dakota by the second week of July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in South Dakota?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 13% of South Dakota checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in South Dakota?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Blue Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.