Coccothraustes vespertinus
Unannounced, a flock of Evening Grosbeaks descends one chilly December day upon a feeder. For the proprietor of the feeder, the gold and black grosbeaks are both an aesthetic blessing and a financial curse. Although Evening Grosbeaks benefit from the sunflower seed bounty offered to them, they disappear suddenly in late winter in an expression of their wild and independent spirit, not to be seen again until they are driven out of their summer homes by the following December's snow and wind. The force per unit area that this grosbeak can exert with its bill might make it the most powerful of any North American bird. Large irruptions of Evening Grosbeaks occur every two to three years, with some birds ranging as far south as the Gulf states. It was once thought that this bird sang only in the evening, a fact that is reflected in both its common and scientific names: vespertinus is Latin for 'of the evening.' |
I.D.: General: massive, light-colored, conical bill; black wings and tail; broad, white wing patches. Male: black crown; yellow eyebrow; dark brown head gradually fading into golden yellow on the belly and lower back. Female: gray head and upper back; yellow-tinged underparts; white undertail coverts. Size: L 7-81/2 in. (18-22 cm). Range: locally uncommon year-round resident throughout the Rockies. Habitat: Summer: open coniferous forests. Winter: townsites and deciduous forests up to the subalpine. Nesting: on an outer limb in a conifer; flimsy cup nest is loosely woven with twigs, small roots, plant fibers and grass; female incubates 3-4 eggs for 11-14 days. Feeding: gleans the ground and vegetation for tree and shrub seeds, buds and berries; also eats insects and licks mineral-rich soil; visits feeding stations for sunflower seeds. Voice: song is a wandering warble; call is a loud, sharp clee-ip. Similar Species: American Goldfinch: much smaller; small bill; smaller wing bars. Pine Grosbeak female has a black bill and smaller wing bars. |
