About the size of a robin, these finches can appear almost parrot-like to the untrained eye! The male Evening Grosbeak is truly a color spectacle — a large, stocky yellow body accented with black crown and tail, further contrasted with black and white wings. Females are more camouflaged for nest-sitting: grayish-tan all over, with the same black and white wings. Both males and females sport heavy conical bills that are perfect for cracking sunflower seeds!
Some pairs raise two clutches in a single season. Evening Grosbeaks are somewhat nomadic and wander widely in winter. Irruptions in fall and winter are common in response to changing food supplies. Eastern birds may migrate south, but western populations are more often altitudinal migrants, moving from the mountains into nearby lowlands in winter.
Evening Grosbeaks were formerly restricted to the western United States but have expanded their range eastward across the country. This expansion is credited to the planting of box elders and other seed- and fruit-bearing trees across the northern prairies, as well as the presence of bird feeders. As is the case with many irruptive, nomadic species, it is difficult to determine the true population of Evening Grosbeaks. For example, considerable variation in the numbers wintering in the Washington lowlands may reflect either changes in population or merely varying migration.
Evening Grosbeaks are common breeders in mountainous areas throughout Washington, although they are less common in the Olympics than elsewhere. They are seen sporadically in winter throughout much of the forested portion of the state, and are especially common in the Puget lowlands in April and May.
Click here to visit this species' account and breeding-season distribution map in Sound to Sage , Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties.
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Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus. Order: Passeriformes Members of this diverse group make up more than half of the bird species worldwide. Most are small. However their brains are relatively large and their learning abilities are greater than those of most other birds.
Passerine birds are divided into two suborders, the suboscines and the oscines. Oscines are capable of more complex song, and are considered the true songbirds. In Washington, the tyrant flycatchers are the only suboscines; the remaining 27 families are oscines. Family: Fringillidae The finch family is made up of acrobatic seedeaters with conical bills and notched tails. Feeding Behavior Forages mostly in trees and shrubs, sometimes on ground.
Eggs , sometimes Young Both parents feed the nestlings. Diet Mostly seeds, some berries and insects. Nesting In courtship, male "dances" with head and tail raised, wings drooped and vibrating, as he swivels back and forth. Climate threats facing the Evening Grosbeak Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. More News. Keeping Track of These Boreal Nomads Is Notoriously Difficult Boreal Forests The irregular irruptions of winter finches inspire both delight and bewilderment among migration scientists.
This Winter Marks an Incredible 'Superflight' of Hungry Winter Finches News Across the country, birders are being treated to one of the biggest irruption years of boreal birds in recent memory. Ask Kenn! Explore Similar Birds. The Bird Guide Adopt a Bird. American Goldfinch Latin: Spinus tristis. Lesser Goldfinch Latin: Spinus psaltria. These birds need your help. Get Audubon in Your Inbox Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news.
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