WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Vermont

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Vermont?

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

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Vermont. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Vermont in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 1-7early May
PeakMay 15-21mid May
Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: mid May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 19% of Vermont checklists.

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

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

Grosbeaks in Vermont, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 15-21Sep 15-2119%
Evening GrosbeakOct 15-21Oct 15-21Dec 15-21May 8-142.6%
0%10%20%30%Rose-breasted GrosbeakEvening GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Rose-breasted 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 Vermont 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 Vermont

Best counties for Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Windham CountyBest the second week of May · 1712 checklists that week, 39,105 in all24%
  2. Rutland CountyBest mid May · 1860 checklists that week, 46,909 in all23%
  3. Franklin CountyBest mid May · 1134 checklists that week, 25,284 in all23%
  4. Windsor CountyBest late June · 1516 checklists that week, 73,702 in all23%
  5. Chittenden CountyBest mid May · 4095 checklists that week, 109,477 in all21%
  6. Bennington CountyBest the second week of May · 957 checklists that week, 21,621 in all20%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Vermont?
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reach Vermont in late April, are common by early May, peak in mid May (19% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September.
When do grosbeaks leave Vermont?
Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have left Vermont by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Vermont?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is reported most often in mid May, on about 19% of Vermont checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Vermont?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most common.