Species Specifics: Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is a neotropical migrant. Like other members of the Cardinalidae family (cardinals, buntings) grosbeaks have large, conical bills for eating seeds. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a stocky, 8" bird with a pale bill. The male has a black head and back, a white belly, and a triangular red patch on his chest; the female is streaky brown, resembling a large, big-billed sparrow. In flight, the male’s underwing is rosy-pink; the female’s beige-yellow.

The diet of most grosbeaks consists of seeds and fruits; in spring/early summer they forage high in flowering trees to feed on buds. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks eat more insects than other grosbeaks; during migration they visit feeders for sunflower seeds.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks nest in the eastern and mid-western forests of North America. The males usually arrive in the Cincinnati area in early May; the females follow a few days later. Both the males and females sing a “robin-like” song as they start courting and nest-building. In 2-3 days they construct a very loose nest of twigs usually about 10' off the ground in trees on the edge of open areas. Both the male and female incubate the 3-6 pale blue, brown-speckled eggs for 12-14 days. Both parents feed the nestlings, rarely leaving them alone in the nest. Sometimes the female leaves the nestlings before they fledge (9-12 days after hatching) to start a second brood. The male will then take over the parenting duties of the first brood for their 2-3 week fledgling stage.

In early fall, the grosbeaks begin their long trek back to Central and South America. The male no longer sings and his molt has turned his head streaky brown and black.

P.S. Have you ever noticed that the bird I use in my logo is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak?!