Grosbeaks are medium-sized songbirds that migrate through Georgia in the spring and fall. There are two main species of grosbeaks that pass through the state: the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Blue Grosbeak.
Spring Migration
In spring, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in Georgia in April and May. The males are brightly colored with a red triangle on their white breast. They tend to migrate through the state fairly quickly, only staying for 1-2 weeks as they head north to their breeding grounds. Some of the key spring migration dates for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Georgia are:
- Early April: The first Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive in northern Georgia
- Mid April: Numbers increase throughout the state
- Late April: Peak migration period, with large flocks passing through
- Early May: Migration begins to decline as most birds have passed through
- Mid May: Only a few stragglers remain in the state
Blue Grosbeaks also pass through Georgia in spring, typically arriving in early May. They are smaller and darker blue than their rose-breasted cousins. Blue Grosbeaks only stay for a week or two before continuing their journey north. A table summarizing the spring migration timing of grosbeaks in Georgia is below:
| Species | Arrival Time | Peak Period | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Early April | Late April | Mid May |
| Blue Grosbeak | Early May | Mid May | Late May |
Fall Migration
In fall, the migration pattern reverses, with grosbeaks passing back through Georgia on their journey south. However, the timing is a bit different.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks start arriving in Georgia in late August and September. The males have lost their bright breeding plumage and look similar to females. Their southbound migration peaks in mid to late September. Most Rose-breasted Grosbeaks clear out of Georgia by early to mid October.
Blue Grosbeaks follow behind, returning to Georgia in September and October. They tend to peak a bit later, in late September and October. Some Blue Grosbeak stragglers can still be found in Georgia into November.
A summary of the fall grosbeak migration timeline is shown in the table below:
| Species | Arrival Time | Peak Period | Departure Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Late August | Mid-Late September | Early October |
| Blue Grosbeak | September | Late September-October | November |
Stopover Duration
During both spring and fall migration, most grosbeaks only stay in Georgia for a short time period. Their migration is powered by the need to reach their wintering or breeding grounds, so they just briefly stopover to rest and refuel.
However, some individual grosbeaks may linger for longer periods in Georgia during migration. Young birds in their first migration may overshoot their wintering sites and get stuck in Georgia for weeks or months. Other grosbeaks may find abundant food sources in the state and so delay their migration south.
These stopover durations for grosbeaks passing through Georgia can vary:
- Typical stopover: 1-2 weeks
- Short stopover: Just a few days
- Extended stopover: Up to 1-2 months
But most grosbeaks just make a brief migratory stopover of about 1-2 weeks in Georgia before resuming their migration.
Overwintering
While most grosbeaks simply pass through Georgia during migration, a small number may overwinter in the state and stay throughout the winter months.
A few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been recorded overwintering in coastal Georgia and into Florida. However, their winter range is predominantly south of Georgia in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Blue Grosbeaks are more likely to overwinter in Georgia. Though their core winter range is in southern Mexico and Central America, small numbers regular overwinter in the southern parts of Georgia and South Carolina. These are typically young birds or adults that got thrown off course and missed the migration south.
The abundance of food from backyard bird feeders may also allow some Blue Grosbeaks to overwinter in Georgia. They will frequent feeders stocked with sunflower seeds and mil.
However, verified overwintering grosbeaks in Georgia remain fairly rare each year. Most individuals continue on their migration south and leave the state by early winter.
Overwintering Regions
The regions of Georgia most likely to host overwintering grosbeaks are:
- Coastal areas from Savannah south
- Extreme southwestern part of the state near Tallahassee, Florida
- Suburban areas around Atlanta with abundant feeders
But verified sightings of overwintering grosbeaks anywhere in Georgia are unusual and noteworthy for birders.
Conclusion
In summary, most grosbeaks only pass briefly through Georgia during their spring and fall migrations. The typical stopover duration is just 1-2 weeks, though some individuals may linger longer. Actual overwintering in Georgia is quite rare, though a few Blue Grosbeaks may overwinter in the southernmost parts of the state. So while Georgia hosts nice migrations of these colorful songbirds, it is not a permanent or winter home for most grosbeaks.
