Grosbeaks

Evening Grosbeak (male)

Grosbeaks are any of several conical-billed birds belonging to the families Fringillidae and Cardinalidae. Their name is derived from the French word gros bec, or “thick beak,” which accurately describes the birds’ adaptation for cracking seeds with ease.

The Fragillidae family contains a wide range of grosbeaks and finches whose color may be yellow, black, brown or white. The group includes two noteworthy birds: the Evening Grosbeak and the Pine Grosbeak. 

Evening Grosbeak (female)

The Evening Grosbeak breeds in coniferous forests in the northern United States and southern Canada. In the winter, noisy flocks of these chunky, big-billed finches descend on feeders for sunflower seeds. Their thick beaks are ideal for cracking sunflower shells. They can even crack cherry pits. They also may feed on small fruits, maple seeds, insects and small invertebrates. Evening Grosbeaks are irruptive locally, meaning they are seen in some years here and sometimes not.

Pine Grosbeak (male)

Pine Siskin (female)

The Pine Grosbeak is a bird of boreal forests across northern Eurasia and North America. A large finch, it may be seen in southern Canada and the northern United States, including Pennsylvania (but uncommonly). The Pine Grosbeak forages in small flocks and sometimes flies great distances in winter in search of natural food. Adult males are a bright reddish color; females are mostly brown. The Pine Grosbeak's diet consists mostly of buds, seeds and fruits of spruce, pine, juniper, maple, mountain ash, and apple and crabapple trees. A breeding adult develops pouches in the floor of its mouth to carry food for the young

The family Cardinalidae (which includes the Northern Cardinal) includes three varieties of grosbeak. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which can be seen in our area, nests mostly east of the Rockies. The Black-headed Grosbeak resides mostly west of the Rockies. The Blue Grosbeak is mainly found in shrubby habitats in the southern United States.

The boldly patterned Rose-breasted Grosbeak is easily identified. The contrast between the pure black back and hood, the white front and the red bib of the male is striking.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks eat seed, insects, fruit and buds. We may see them as they migrate in the spring, stopping by feeders for sunflower seeds. They usually call Pennsylvania home from May through September.

The nest of the grosbeak is so thinly constructed that the eggs often can be seen from below. The male participates in the incubation of the eggs. Both sexes sing softly to each other as they exchange places.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female)

In the Great Plains, where territories of the Rose-breasted and Black-headed grosbeaks sometimes overlap, hybridizing can occur. Hybrids can look like either of the parent species, or various combinations of pink, black or orange.

So “grosbeak” links characteristics—thick, strong beaks—of birds that may or may not be “cousins.”