Evening Grosbeak

The Evening Grosbeak is a large, heavy-billed finch of northern and high-elevation coniferous forests, known for irruptive winter movements that can bring flocks well south of the typical breeding range in years of poor cone crops. Males show a bold pattern of black head and wings, a bright yellow body and forehead patch, and large white wing patches, while females are more subdued grayish-yellow with less contrast. The species' large size and bold pattern make its feathers relatively easy to identify where they occur.

Size and Shape

Feathers are large and robust, among the biggest of the regularly occurring North American finches, consistent with the species' heavy conical bill.

Color and Pattern

• Male head feathers: black crown with a bright yellow forehead patch
• Male body feathers: bright yellow, richest on the back and rump
• Male wing feathers: black with large white patches
• Female feathers: grayish-yellow overall, with more muted wing patterning than males

Distinguishing from Similar Species

The combination of large size, black-and-yellow body pattern, and bold white wing patches in males is distinctive among northern finches; no similarly sized common finch shares this exact pattern, making Evening Grosbeak feathers relatively straightforward to identify by color alone.

Adult males show a black crown, bright yellow body, and black-and-white wings; adult females are duller grayish-yellow with less sharply defined wing patches. Juveniles resemble females initially. Adults undergo a complete molt after the breeding season, generally in late summer.

Evening Grosbeaks breed across the boreal forest of Canada and in montane conifer forests of the western United States, and are known for irregular, irruptive winter movements south into the northern and even central United States when conifer seed crops fail farther north. The species' winter range and abundance can vary considerably from year to year depending on food availability.

This grosbeak feeds heavily on tree seeds, particularly from conifers and maples, using its massive bill to crack open tough seed coats, and also visits feeders for sunflower seeds during winter irruptions. It builds a loose cup nest, often high in conifers. Its calls include a sharp, ringing "clee-ip" note, often the first indication of a flock's presence, and it typically travels and feeds in flocks, especially outside the breeding season.