Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Overview

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Large finch, black head, back, bright red breast, and white rump, sides, belly. The wings are black with white patches above and red, white, black below. Long, slightly notched black tail with white patches. Eats seeds, caterpillars, insects, tree flowers, fruits and berries.

Range and Habitat

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Breeds from northeastern British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia to southern Alberta, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and New Jersey, and as far south as northern Georgia; regular visitor on the west coast and winters from central into northern South America. Preferred habitats include moist woodlands, open fields and old, overgrown orchards.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak will mate with the Black-headed Grosbeak where the population densities of both species are low.
The name “grosbeak” is from the French word grosbec and means “large beak.”
Unlike most songbird species, the female is known to sing.
A group of grosbeaks are collectively known as a "gross" of grosbeaks.

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a member of the cardinal family, and reaches a length of 19 cm in adulthood. Its preferred breeding habitat includes open, deciduous woodlands in Canada and the eastern United States. Northern populations will migrate in winter months to southern Mexico and Central America, including Peru and Venezuela. This species is rarely found in Western Europe as well. These birds forage for food in shrubs and trees, and diets consist of insects, seeds and berries. Some insects are also caught in-flight. The conservation status of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is currently Least Concern.