Wild Bird Profile: The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Characteristics: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are large finches with very large bills and easily identified by their plumage. Males are black and white with a bright pink patch on their breast and inside their wings. Females are olive-brown with a distinct pale supercilium on their face and their breasts are streaky. First summer males are similar to males but have browner plumage and a duller pink patch on their breast.

Distribution: RB grosbeaks breed throughout the northeastern U.S. (from the Great Plains to New England) and in central Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia). They also breed along the Appalachian mountain range. During the winter, they breed in southern Pacific slope and Gulf Slope of Mexico, the rest of Central America, and northern South America.

Movement: Based on banding data, RB grosbeaks breeding in the eastern U.S. winter in eastern Central America and South America and western breeders are found in Mexico and western Central America. Migratory flights are typically during the night.

Food: During the breeding season, RB grosbeaks eat equal amounts of insect matter and vegetable matter including fruit and seeds. During the fall, they eat primarily fruits. RB grosbeaks are often found at feeders with black-oil sunflower seeds. They will use tube feeders as well as platforms feeders.

Sound: The male RB grosbeak song sounds incredibly similar to scarlet tanagers and American robins. The song is extremely melodic with a few pauses. The grosbeak song has few pauses compared to robins and is less crass compared to tanagers.
Nesting: Males will arrive to their breeding grounds before females in May. They have eggs and nestlings between May and July and generally have only one brood. Nests are open cups and their eggs are typically pale blue or green with brownish speckles.

Similar species: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are closely related to the black-headed grosbeak but looks entirely different. They will breed (hybridize) with each other where their ranges overlap.

Interesting fact: If you open the wings of the grosbeaks, you will see a bright orange (female) or bright pink patch of feathers. This is rarely seen without the bird in the hand.