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Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

The Black-headed Grosbeak is a colorful bird with a bright orange body and a black head. They love to sing beautiful songs and can be found in forests and gardens, especially during spring and summer.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Black-headed Grosbeak male has a striking black head, rusty-orange breast, and black wings with prominent white patches. Females are streaky brown with yellowish underparts and distinct facial markings, setting them apart from similar songbirds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyCardinalidaeGenusPheucticus
Black-headed Grosbeak
Photo: Alan VernonCC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
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Black-headed Grosbeak

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

25

Interesting facts

Baby grosbeaks are born blind and featherless, relying entirely on their parents for food!

Males often sing while sitting on the nest, a rare behavior among most bird dads!

Their powerful beaks can even crack open hard snail shells, a unique bird superpower!

These birds enjoy eating sweet fruit and are sometimes seen in backyard orchards!

Special abilities

Ability

Mighty Mandibles

Black-headed Grosbeak has a massive, conical bill that helps them crush even the toughest seeds with ease.

Ability

Pest Patrol

Black-headed Grosbeak can eat many types of garden insects, because they are opportunistic omnivores.

Ability

Melody Master

Black-headed Grosbeak has a rich, flowing, robin-like song that helps them defend territory.

Measurements & details

Length
18-20 cm
Wingspan
31-33 cm
Weight
0.035-0.049 kg
Lifespan
5-10 years
Speed
40 km/h
Clutch Size
2-5
Incubation
12-14 days
Migration Distance
3500 km

Diet & Feeding

These birds are omnivores, enjoying a mix of insects, seeds, and sweet fruits like berries.

Primary Foods

  • beetles
  • caterpillars
  • berries
  • sunflower seeds
  • peas
  • snails

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Black-headed Grosbeak?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Black-headed Grosbeak?

18-20 cm

What is Black-headed Grosbeak's wingspan?

31-33 cm

How much does Black-headed Grosbeak weigh?

0.035-0.049 kg

How long does Black-headed Grosbeak live?

5-10 years

How fast can Black-headed Grosbeak move?

40 km/h

What does Black-headed Grosbeak eat?

These birds are omnivores, enjoying a mix of insects, seeds, and sweet fruits like berries.

Where is Black-headed Grosbeak usually found?

Forests

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