The rose-breasted grosbeak and the Black-headed grosbeak are two similar-looking songbird species found in North America. The adult males of each species are distinctive with bold black, white and red/rose plumage. However, the females and juveniles are quite similar brown birds and can be tricky to differentiate in the field. This article will go over the key identification features, distribution, habitat, diet, nesting and vocalizations to distinguish these two grosbeak species.
Identification
Here are some tips for identifying female and juvenile rose-breasted grosbeaks vs Black-headed grosbeaks:
Size and proportions
– Rose-breasted grosbeaks are larger with a more massive bill than Black-headed grosbeaks. They measure 16-18 cm in length with a wingspan of 29-33 cm. Black-headed grosbeaks are smaller at 14-15 cm in length with a 25-28 cm wingspan.
– Rose-breasted grosbeaks have a proportionally larger head and thicker neck compared to a smaller head and thinner neck on the Black-headed.
Plumage
– Female rose-breasted grosbeaks have brown upperparts with bold black and white stripes on the head. The wing bars are buffy white. The underparts are pale brown transitioning to white on the belly with dark streaks on the breast and flanks.
– Female/juvenile Black-headed grosbeaks are more uniformly brown on the head and upperparts without strong black and white head stripes. The wing bars are white. The underparts are yellow-buff colored transitioning to whitish on the belly with diffused streaking on breast and flanks.
Bill color
– Female rose-breasted grosbeaks have an all dark grayish bill.
– Female/juvenile Black-headed grosbeaks have a bicolored bill that is gray with a yellow lower mandible.
Feature | Female Rose-Breasted Grosbeak | Female/Juvenile Black-Headed Grosbeak |
---|---|---|
Size | Larger, Massive bill | Smaller, Petite |
Length | 16-18 cm | 14-15 cm |
Wingspan | 29-33 cm | 25-28 cm |
Proportions | Large head, Thick neck | Smaller head, Thinner neck |
Head | Bold black & white stripes | More uniformly brown |
Upperparts | Brown with black & white stripes on head | Uniform brown |
Underparts | Pale brown, dark streaks, white belly | Yellow-buff, diffused streaks, whitish belly |
Wing Bars | Buffy white | White |
Bill Color | All dark gray | Gray with yellow lower mandible |
Behavior
– Female rose-breasted grosbeaks often forage lower in shrubs and trees compared to the more arboreal Black-headed grosbeak.
– Rose-breasteds are slower and more deliberate in their movements compared to the quicker, more active Black-headed.
Distribution
The rose-breasted grosbeak has a more easterly distribution centered in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada:
– Breeds from Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri east to the Atlantic coast and up into Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. Winters along the southeast US coast, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
The Black-headed grosbeak has a more westerly distribution centered in the western US and southwestern Canada:
– Breeds from British Columbia and Alberta south to Baja California, and east to the western halves of Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Winters in western Mexico.
There is overlap between the two species in the Great Plains region where they can be found together in summer. However, rose-breasteds occur here at much lower densities than further east.
Habitat
– Rose-breasted grosbeaks prefer more dense, wet deciduous forests and woodlots with a mix of tall trees and a dense understory. Typical breeding habitats include riparian woodlands, swamp edges, regenerating clearcuts with young aspen and birch, and parks/suburbs with mature trees.
– Black-headed grosbeaks occur in fairly open deciduous and mixed woodlands, especially those with oaks. They frequent parks, gardens, riparian areas and canyons. They tolerate drier habitats than rose-breasteds.
Both species often visit backyard feeders when passing through in migration or nesting nearby.
Diet
Rose-breasted and Black-headed grosbeaks are omnivores, feeding on both insects and fruit.
– For insects, rose-breasteds glean caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, and flies from leaves. Black-headeds often catch insects in flight.
– For fruit, rose-breasteds favor berries from chokecherry, dogwood, sumac and elderberry shrubs. Black-headeds feed more on seeds and nuts from ash, maple and cottonwood trees.
– Rose-breasteds regularly visit backyard feeders for sunflower seeds, nyjer thistle and peanut halves. Black-headeds less frequently visit feeders.
Diet | Rose-Breasted Grosbeak | Black-Headed Grosbeak |
---|---|---|
Insects | Glean from leaves | Catch in flight |
Fruit | Berries from shrubs | Tree seeds and nuts |
Backyard Feeders | Frequent visitor | Infrequent visitor |
Nesting
Rose-breasted and Black-headed grosbeaks build fairly large, loose open cup nests in forest areas from twigs, grasses and stems:
Nesting | Rose-Breasted Grosbeak | Black-Headed Grosbeak |
---|---|---|
Nest Placement | Middle canopy | Outer canopy |
Nest Height | 3-10 m high | 2-18 m high |
Clutch Size | 3-5 eggs | 3-4 eggs |
Incubation | 12-14 days | 11-14 days |
Nestling Period | 9-12 days | 10-15 days |
Some key differences:
– Rose-breasteds nest in the mid-canopy 3-10 m high, while Black-headeds often nest higher near the tops of trees 2-18 m high.
– Rose-breasteds lay slightly larger clutches of 3-5 eggs compared to 3-4 eggs for Black-headeds.
– The nestling period is a bit shorter for rose-breasteds at 9-12 days vs. 10-15 days for Black-headeds.
Vocalizations
Rose-breasted and Black-headed grosbeaks both have lovely, melodious warbles, but their songs differ:
– The song of the rose-breasted is a sweet, flowing warble often sounding like “cheerily, cheer up, cheerio”.
– The song of the Black-headed is shorter, sweeter, and more whistled, resembling a Northern cardinal.
– The most common call of the rose-breasted is a sharp, ringing “plee-ik” or “keer”.
– The call of the Black-headed is a shorter, hard “chink”.
So in summary, listen for the longer, flowing warble of the rose-breasted, and the shorter, sweeter, whistled song of the Black-headed grosbeak. The calls are useful too with the rose-breasted’s sharp “plee-ik” or “keer” vs. the Black-headed’s shorter “chink”.
Conclusion
In summary, female and juvenile rose-breasted grosbeaks are distinguished from Black-headed grosbeaks by their larger size, bolder black and white head stripes, buffy wing bars, all dark bill, frequent foraging in lower vegetation, and longer, flowing, melodious song. Black-headed grosbeaks are smaller, lack strong head patterns, have white wing bars, a bi-colored bill, tend to forage higher in trees, and have a shorter, sweeter, whistled song. Paying attention to distribution, habitat, behavior, and especially vocalizations are key to identifying these two similar grosbeak species. With practice, birders can confidently distinguish these two beauties of summer even in their trickier plumages.