WhenToBird

3 grosbeak species in Utah

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Utah?

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 Utah. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Utah in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (24% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 22-31late May
Most gone byAug 1-7early August

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by early August. Peak: on about 24% of Utah checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julcommon
  8. Auguncommon
  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 Utah, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 22-31Aug 1-724%
Blue GrosbeakMay 15-21May 15-21Aug 1-7Sep 1-73.1%
Evening GrosbeakOct 1-7Oct 1-7May 1-7May 22-311.9%
0%10%20%30%Black-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Black-headed Grosbeak
  • Blue 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 Utah 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 Utah

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Salt Lake CountyBest late May · 3723 checklists that week, 104,432 in all35%
  2. Weber CountyBest early June · 306 checklists that week, 13,172 in all35%
  3. Cache CountyBest late May · 853 checklists that week, 21,769 in all34%
  4. Morgan CountyBest the second week of June · 85 checklists that week, 3,178 in all31%
  5. Wasatch CountyBest late May · 409 checklists that week, 7,780 in all26%
  6. Wayne CountyBest mid May · 220 checklists that week, 4,300 in all26%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Utah?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Utah in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (24% of checklists), and most are gone by early August.
When do grosbeaks leave Utah?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Utah by early August, 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 Utah?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in late May, on about 24% of Utah checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Utah?
Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.