Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 35,036 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Rose-breasted Grosbeak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a large, seed-eating grosbeak in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It is primarily a foliage gleaner. It breeds in cool-temperate North America, migrating to tropical America in winter.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 3,475 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 2,680 | May | May–May |
| New York | 2,484 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 2,246 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 2,195 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 2,068 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 1,844 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 1,726 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 1,338 | May | May–Jun |
| Vermont | 1,095 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 1,015 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 895 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 876 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 863 | April | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 772 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 759 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Maryland | 733 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 701 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 611 | April | Apr–May |
| Louisiana | 573 | April | Apr–Apr |
| California | 527 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 479 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 469 | May | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 453 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 453 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 451 | April | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 447 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 417 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 402 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 380 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 215 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 211 | May | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 155 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 149 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 122 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 112 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 110 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 96 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 93 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 71 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 67 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 62 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Oregon | 50 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 26 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 17 | June | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 16 | May | May–Jun |
| Utah | 14 | May | May–May |
| Idaho | 10 | May | May–Aug |
| Wyoming | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Summer Tanager
Painted Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Western Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Rose-breasted Grosbeak?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Rose-breasted Grosbeak most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Ohio, New York.