Bird of the Month: Black-headed Grosbeak
Written by Andy McCormick
Andy McCormick, Volunteer and Former Board President of Eastside Audubon
This breeding bird of summer is often found in deciduous woodlands feeding on fruits, seeds, and insects in the higher levels of trees.
The adult male Black-headed Grosbeak is a striking bird with a black head, wings, and tail contrasting with a burnt orange collar and chest. Large white bars mark the wings. In spring it enjoys a high perch from which it sings a quick song of alternating high and low two-note phrases. The female and fall juvenile birds have a striped head, dull brown back and wings with pale orange on the breast and belly. It can be difficult to distinguish females and young males in fall and winter, but the males have little to no streaking on the sides and flanks (Alderfer). Photos, videos, and vocalizations of Black-headed Grosbeak can be enjoyed at the Macaulay Library.
The male Black-headed Grosbeak shares a similar coloration pattern with the Spotted Towhee and at times may be confused with it such as when they come to feeders. However, the large finch bill and bulkier form of the grosbeak will make the difference clear. There are very few winter records of Black-headed Grosbeak in the northern states, therefore the towhee will be the only bird in the Pacific Northwest with these colors between October and early May.
Black-headed grosbreak
Scientific Name: Pheucticus melanocephalus
Length: 8.25”
Wingspan: 12.5”
Weight: 1.6 oz (454 g)
AOU Alpha Code: BHGR
BREEDING IS DELAYED IN MALES
Male Black-headed Grosbeaks mature over a two-year period and do not breed in their second summer. These yearling males develop versions of adult plumage which vary in appearance from adult male-like to adult female-like. The yearlings are able to breed in their third summer, when they attain full adult plumage (Hill). Only yearling males which appear similar to adult males are able to defend a territory when these young birds are subject to aggression from adult males. Yearlings which appear more like females receive less aggression from adult males (Hill).The yearling males arrive on the breeding grounds later than adult males which also reduces the incidence of conflicts.
PARTNERS IN BREEDING
Male and female Black-headed Grosbeaks share duties in the breeding cycle. The cup nest of twigs and weeds is built solely by the female, but after the 3-4 greenish blue eggs are deposited both parents incubate the eggs, However, only the female takes the night shift. Both parents feed the nestlings which stay close to the nest for about two weeks after fledging. They perch on branches near the nest waiting to be fed. It can take nearly four weeks from hatching before the young make are ready for their first flight.
DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT
The Black-headed Grosbeak breeds from the southern edge of British Columbia and Alberta throughout the western United States and into Central Mexico where it is a common bird as far south as Oaxaca. It is considered a complete migrant since all adults and juveniles leave the breeding area in fall and spend the winter in Mexico.
Fall migration usually begins in July and can continue until October with most Black-headed Grosbeaks departing in August and September. Many of these birds make a stopover in the area of the southwestern monsoons in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico during August where they complete their fall feather molt. After several weeks they move to other parts of Mexico where they remain until they begin their northward journey again in late March. Adult males arrive in Washington and British Columbia in early May. Females arrive about a week after the first males, and yearling males arrive about two weeks after the first adult male.
The world population of Black-headed Grosbeaks is large and stable, primarily due to their ability to nest in a wide variety of habitats, enjoy a diverse diet, and tolerate much human activity (Hill). Consequently, no management plans are in place at this time.
TAXONOMY
The Black-headed Grosbeak is placed in the genus Pheucticus, which it shares with the Rose-breasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus) of Eastern North America, and four yellow and black grosbeaks of Mexico and Central and South America: Yellow Grosbeak (P. chrysopeplus), Golden Grosbeak (P. chrysogaster), Black-thighed Grosbeak (P. tibialis), and Black-backed Grosbeak (P. auroventris). Pheucticus is from the Greek pheuktikos, referring to the bird’s shyness or inclination to avoid others. The Black-headed’s species epithet is also from the Greek. Melas, black and kephale, head combine to form melanocephalus. Grosbeak is a name derived from the French, gros, large, and bec, beak (Holloway). The ranges of Black-headed and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks overlap in the Great Basin states and occasional hybrids are identified there.
Photo credit: Mick Thompson
References available upon request from amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org.