WhenToBird

2 grosbeak species in Washington

When Do Grosbeaks Arrive in Washington?

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 Washington. Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Washington in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.

When to look

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

Best: late May. First arrivals late April; most are gone by late July. Peak: on about 31% of Washington checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprrare
  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 Washington, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Black-headed GrosbeakApr 22-30May 1-7May 22-31Jul 22-3131%
Evening GrosbeakMar 22-31Mar 22-31May 15-21Oct 15-215.3%
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 Washington 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 Washington

Best counties for Black-headed Grosbeak

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Mason CountyBest late May · 931 checklists that week, 27,853 in all52%
  2. Clark CountyBest late May · 1937 checklists that week, 53,250 in all52%
  3. Wahkiakum CountyBest late May · 209 checklists that week, 5,618 in all52%
  4. Skamania CountyBest mid May · 224 checklists that week, 10,140 in all50%
  5. Cowlitz CountyBest late May · 452 checklists that week, 15,273 in all47%
  6. Skagit CountyBest late May · 2271 checklists that week, 78,154 in all46%

Common questions

When do grosbeaks arrive in Washington?
Black-headed Grosbeaks reach Washington in late April, are common by early May, peak in late May (31% of checklists), and most are gone by late July.
When do grosbeaks leave Washington?
Most Black-headed Grosbeaks have left Washington by late July, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early September.
When is the best time to see grosbeaks in Washington?
The Black-headed Grosbeak is reported most often in late May, on about 31% of Washington checklists.
Which grosbeaks are in Washington?
Black-headed Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeak are reported regularly; the Black-headed Grosbeak is the most common.