General

Black-headed Grosbeak: Large, stocky finch with black-streaked, orange-brown back and black head, wings, and tail. Breast is orange-brown and belly is yellow. Wings have conspicuous white patches. Female and juvenile have white eyebrows and finely streaked, buff underparts. Interbreeds with Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Range and Habitat

Black-headed Grosbeak: Breeds from southwestern Canada east to western North Dakota and Nebraska, and south to the mountains of Mexico. Spends winters in Mexico. Preferred habitats include open, deciduous woodlands near water, such as river bottoms, lakeshores, and swampy places with a mixture of trees and shrubs.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"plik"

Interesting Facts

 The Black-headed Grosbeak is one of the few birds that can safely eat the poisonous monarch butterfly.

 Their nests are so thinly constructed that eggs can be seen through the bottom. However, nests are less thin in northern California. Thin nests may provide ventilation and help keep them cool.

 They hybridize with their eastern counterpart, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, along their mutual boundary. This situation arose when the treeless prairies, which once formed a barrier between the two, became dotted with towns and homesteads, providing suitable habitats for both species.

 A group of grosbeaks are collectively known as a "gross" of grosbeaks.

Author

Gary Owen Dick