Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

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Identification

Field notes

21 cm (8") Fairly common. Western North America. Open woodlands.

Large bill. Counterpart of eastern Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Hybrids occur where their ranges overlap.

Male: black head. Cinnamon-orange breast and rump. White belly. White wing bars.

Female: sparrow-like. Streaked brownish back. Light eyebrow stripe. Similar to female Rose-breasted Grosbeak but has finer and less streaking on sides and a buffy usually unstreaked breast.

Song: rising and falling similar to Robin's song.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Rick Leche

Credit: Robin Horn

Credit: Rick Leche

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Black-headed Grosbeak

Credit: Don DesJardin

Black-headed Grosbeak

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-Headed Grosbeak (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:870-black-headed-grosbeak-male:1:1 Source: 870 Black-Headed Grosbeak (Male), row 1

Black-Headed Grosbeak (Female or Immature)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
Was the HEAD striped ?: Yes · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:871-black-headed-grosbeak-female-or-immature:1:1 Source: 871 Black-Headed Grosbeak (Female or Immature), row 1