WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Virginia

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Virginia?

Adult male Blue Grosbeak
Photo: John Rosford, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Blue Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are the grosbeaks you are most likely to see in Virginia. Blue Grosbeaks reach Virginia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early August (10% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakAug 1-7early August
Most gone bySep 8-14the second week of September

Best: early August. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by the second week of September. Peak: on about 10% of Virginia checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novnot usually seen
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Grosbeaks in Virginia, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Blue GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 22-30Aug 1-7Sep 8-1410%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakApr 15-21Apr 15-21May 1-7Jun 15-217.6%
0%5%10%15%Blue GrosbeakRose-breasted GrosbeakJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Rose-breasted 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

Best counties for Blue Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Surry CountyBest the second week of August · 46 checklists that week, 2,669 in all59%
  2. King William CountyBest early August · 28 checklists that week, 2,070 in all55%
  3. Charles CityBest early August · 49 checklists that week, 2,357 in all48%
  4. Essex CountyBest the second week of July · 49 checklists that week, 2,973 in all46%
  5. Southampton CountyBest late July · 13 checklists that week, 717 in all46%
  6. Charlotte CountyBest late June · 75 checklists that week, 1,313 in all42%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Virginia?
Blue Grosbeaks reach Virginia in mid April, are common by late April, peak in early August (10% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of September.
When do grosbeaks leave Virginia?
Most Blue Grosbeaks have left Virginia by the second week of September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early October.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Virginia?
The Blue Grosbeak is reported most often in early August, on about 10% of Virginia checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Virginia?
Blue Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Blue Grosbeak is the most common.