Western Kingbirds reach South Dakota in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid July (12% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When to look
First arrivalsApr 22-30late April
Common byMay 8-14the second week of May
PeakJul 15-21mid July
Most gone byAug 8-14the second week of August
Best: mid July. First arrivals late April; most are gone by the second week of August. Peak: on about 12% of South Dakota checklists.
Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprrare
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepuncommon
Octnot usually seen
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
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.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Alabaugh CanyonFall River County, best the second week of May · 38 checklists that week, 206 in all18%
Oaha Recreation AreaStanley County, best early May · 20 checklists that week, 247 in all15%
Cheyenne River Canyons FeeFall River County, best the second week of May · 34 checklists that week, 106 in all12%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In South Dakota, the Western Kingbird is most often listed on checklists started between 6 and 8 pm (6.2% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
0%
0%
0%
0%
February
0%
0%
0%
0%
March
0%
0%
0%
0%
April
0%
0%
0.1%
0.4%
May
3.1%
7.5%
9.4%
11%
June
11%
9.8%
9.6%
9.5%
July
11%
12%
12%
12%
August
10%
6.3%
4.7%
2.8%
September
2.5%
1.1%
0.4%
0.1%
October
0%
0%
0%
0%
November
0%
0%
0%
0%
December
0%
0%
0%
0%
Neighboring states
Nebraska: arrives late April, in the same week than South Dakota
North Dakota: arrives early May, 1 week later than South Dakota
Kansas: arrives mid April, 1 week earlier than South Dakota
Colorado: arrives mid April, 1 week earlier than South Dakota
Common questions
When do Western Kingbirds arrive in South Dakota?
Western Kingbirds reach South Dakota in late April, are common by the second week of May, peak in mid July (12% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of August.
When do Western Kingbirds leave South Dakota?
Most Western Kingbirds have left South Dakota by the second week of 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 a Western Kingbird in South Dakota?
The Western Kingbird is reported most often in mid July, on about 12% of South Dakota checklists.
Where in South Dakota are Western Kingbirds seen most often?
By county, Gregory County, Aurora County, and Walworth County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Western Kingbird (counties with at least 200 checklists).
