Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Mixed Upland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Hardwood (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      Mast

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: The Evening Grosbeak has typically been associated with coniferous forests of spruce and fir during the breeding season but can also be found in mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, and even parks. Of 14 records in the Atlas Habitat Survey, 12 were in mixed forest. Payne (1983) quoted N.E. Sloan that grosbeaks in the Upper Peninsula live in hardwood forests and move into jack pines during budworm outbreaks.

Typically, the Evening Grosbeak nests in the upper portion of a conifer tree 6 to 12 m above the ground. Nests are frail platforms or cups constructed of twigs and lined with grasses or mosses. Spiers reported an Evening Grosbeak nest in the Whitefish Point area found in 1923 that was located in a white pine about 8 m from the ground. Bekoff et al. (1987) found that almost two-thirds of the Evening Grosbeak nests studied in Colorado were in ponderosa pine at an average height of 9.7 m above the ground.

During the winter months this bird can be found in almost any type of habitat. Its primary diet of seeds and fruit pits is evidenced by its large, conical, and very strong bill. Evening Grosbeaks feed heavily on the seeds of the boxelder tree, as the seeds of this tree are persistent and remain suspended on the tree for much of the winter.

Habitat: Breeding: Coniferous forests. Wintering: Coniferous and deciduous woodlands

Special Habitat Requirements: Coniferous forests.

Habitat: Conifers forests; in winter, box elder and other maples, also fruiting shrubs. Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests; often associated with spruce and fir in northern forest, with pines in western mountains. In migration and winter, may be equally common in deciduous groves in woodlands and semi-open country.

Diet: Mostly seeds, some berries and insects. Seeds make up majority of diet, especially seeds of box elder, ash, maple, locust, and other trees. Also feeds on buds of deciduous trees, berries, small fruits, weed seeds. Will feed on oozing maple sap. Eats some insects in summer. At bird feeders, very fond of sunflower seeds. Will eat fine gravel for minerals and salts. Huge bill allows it to crack large seeds with ease.

Nest: Usual site is on horizontal branch (well out from trunk) or in vertical fork of tree. Height varies, usually 20-60 feet above ground, can be 10-100 feet up. Nest is a rather loosely made cup of twigs, lined with fine grass, moss, rootlets, pine needles.