rose-breasted grosbeak

1. Bird Name
The bird under scrutiny is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Its scientific name is Pheucticus ludovicianus.

2. Appearance
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a strikingly colored songbird. Its standout feature is the vibrant rosy-red triangle which graces the breast of the adult males, contrasting beautifully with its jet black head, neck, and back. The male also boasts a pair of white patches on its wings and tail. Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are primarily brown and heavily streaked. They come with a whitish breast and eyebrow stripe, and dingy orange underwing coverts. Both sexes have a distinctly large, conical bill, perfect for crunching seeds.

3. Size
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are medium-sized with robust bodies. Their lengths range from 18 to 22 centimeters, approximately 7 to 8.5 inches. Their wingspan averages between 29 to 33 centimeters or 12 to 13 inches. These beauties weigh between 35-65 grams, with males generally being heavier than the females.

4. Habitat & Distribution
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak inhabits deciduous forests across the eastern half of North America during the breeding season. The bird is migratory and spends its winters in Central and South America. These birds favor spaces with large trees interspersed with clearings. They are often found in both mature and second-growth hardwood forests, wooded suburban areas, and gardens where bird feeders are available.

5. Interesting Facts
One of the unique habits of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is its tendency towards ‘courtship feeding’, where the male regularly feeds the female during the early stages of breeding as a demonstration of his ability to provide. These colorful songbirds have a beautiful and melodious song described as resembling a Robin’s song but more refined and faster. They are also one of the few bird species where the male contributes almost equally to nesting duties including incubation.

6. Diet
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s diet primarily consists of insects, seeds, and berries. During the breeding season, their diet comprises largely of beetles, caterpillars, true bugs, and grasshoppers. In non-breeding season, seeds and berries fill most of their meals.

7. Behavior & Sounds
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s song sounds like a more melodic and sweeter version of the American Robin’s song. Their call is a sharp “eek” or “squeak”. These birds weave bulky, loose, and often sloppy nests. Males share in incubation, alternating with the females.

8. Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List has classified Rose-breasted Grosbeaks as Least Concern, indicating that these species are relatively stable and have not triggered the criteria for a vulnerable or endangered designation.

9. Lifespan
The average lifespan of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the wild is around seven years. The oldest recorded Rose-breasted Grosbeak lived to be at least 24 years old.

10. Additional Notes
In the regions they inhabit, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been known to interact with humans, particularly in backyards where bird feeders are provided. They play a significant role in seed dispersal and insect control in their ecosystems. In Mexican culture, they symbolize the arrival of spring, and there, they are known as “picogrueso pechirrosado.”