Rose-breasted grosbeak, where they live, what they eat, description

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

rose-breasted grosbeak
Hear Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted grosbeaks are neotropical migrants. They spend the winter months in an area from central Mexico to northern South America. In May they return to the North American continent and take up summer residence in the northeastern United States and southern Canada.

Males arrive back first, select an appropriate nesting territory and begin singing to attract a prospective mate as the female birds arrive.

Favored sites are located in deciduous forests and woodland edges.

Because of this preference, rose-breasted grosbeaks frequently are victims of brown-headed cowbirds.

Female cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and leave parental duties to the surrogates.

What They Eat

Rose-breasted grosbeaks forage for food in the wooded environment they inhabit. A large, conical bill allows these birds to consume a variety of seeds, fruit and insects.

A typical diet for these birds might include the seeds of elms, the blossoms of hickory or beech trees and the buds of white ash. Insects of the forest such as gypsy moths and tent caterpillars are table fare for grosbeaks.

It is a great delight to backyard birdwatchers that grosbeaks also relish sunflower seeds. This taste readily brings them to platform or hopper feeders stocked with striped or black-oil sunflower seeds.

Appearance

Male grosbeaks in spring breeding plumage are brilliantly handsome birds. The head andback are black, the belly and rump are white and the upper breast has a beautiful triangular patch of bright red.

Females resemble over-sized sparrows with a broad white eyebrow and streaked breast. Grosbeaks show white flashes in their wings as they fly, but it is the stout, conical bill that provides the positive identification of all the grosbeaks, male and female.

Voice

Rose-breasted grosbeaks often sing from the treetops in their loud, clear song. It is a richer, more melodious version of the lengthy sing-song of the American robin and the notes are sweeter and more slurred whistles. The call note of the grosbeak is equally distinctive.

It is a sharp, metallic "chink." This call

sounds like the abrupt "screep" sound that sneakers make on a highly waxed gymnasium floor.

Nest, Eggs, Incubation, Fledging

The nest is a flimsy built saucer of twigs, stems, and grass. Located 5 to 50 feet above ground in a shrub or tree.

The female bird lays 3 to 5, pale blue or green with brown spotted eggs and incubation last about 13 days. Both the male and female incubate the eggs.

The young will leave the nest in 9 to 12 days after hatching.

Male Rose-breasted grosbeaks will sing while incubating the eggs. This is interesting, as most birds are quiet on the nest in order not to attract predators.

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