See all posts in the Birds of Carver County series
The rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a joy to see in our forests, parks, near our streams and ponds and especially at our bird feeders. The species’ common name of “grosbeak” reflects the super-sized bill it uses to open the shells of seeds.
After their long migration to get here, hopefully they appreciate the seeds we provide for their springtime feeding. In the summer, insects are most of their diet and in fall migration they also eat fruits.
In winter, the birds that breed in colder habitats like Minnesota will travel to the southern states and Central America. But starting in May, Carver County gets to enjoy their presence and nesting.
The mature males are distinctive and their scarlet breast marking on a white chest can be stunning to first-time viewers. Their black backs are contrasted with a white rump and in flight, the males show large white patches on their wings and bright red under-wing linings. Females have sparrow-like brown shades on their back and wings, with light streaking on their chest. Adults have pale bills and immature birds have dark beaks and colors that resemble adult females. Immature males will gradually develop red breast feathers and darker heads.
Even though their larger body size and giant bills are good identification traits, female rose-breasted grosbeaks could be mistaken for female purple finches. The Grosbeak’s facial marking of a strong white eyebrow and streaked chest may cause momentary confusion when their presence isn’t expected.
Both sexes can sing, but the male’s musical tones and volume are as notable as its triangular rose breast. He will usually pick a treetop location to announce his territorial claim and to attract a mate. The website All About Birds provides a video of its singing.
Males have even been known to sing while incubating eggs, contrary to the more usual precaution of keeping nests hidden. Nests are built by the hopeful couple, but the female will spend more of her time sitting on the eggs for about two weeks. The nestlings take another 9 to 12 days to be ready to leave the nest. The parents will continue to feed them for about 3 weeks, and the family will stick together until they migrate in September.
For the five months that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are our neighbors, their songs and remarkable colors brighten our days. Their willingness to come to our birdseed feeders make them one of our cherished summer friends.
For more information:
- The Sibley Guide to Birds, David Allen Sibley
- Reader’s Digest Book of North American Birds
- Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Janssen, Tessen, and Kennedy
- Breeding Birds of Minnesota, Pfannmuller, Niemi and Green
- The Audubon Society’s Encyclopedia of North American Birds, John K. Terres
- Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Online: Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas
