Evening Grosbeak

Coccothraustes vespertinus

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

20 cm (8") Locally abundant. Coniferous forests, roadsides; in winter irregular in deciduous forests, suburban areas, feeders. Gregarious.

Male: dark head with a bright yellow forehead and eyebrow stripe; huge light bill; chunky bright yellow body; black wings with large white wing patches; short black tail.

Female: brownish gray overall; huge light bill; chunky body with yellow on nape and sides; black-and-white wings; short black-and-white tail.

In flight; undulating.

Song: musical whistle; chirp call suggests House Sparrow's; flock sounds like sleighbells.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

male near coniferous forest on the Banks of Upper Klamath Lake in Southern Oregon - May 2009

Credit: Blake Matheson

Credit: David

Female - Yuba Pass, near Sierraville, CA - June 10, 2011

Credit: Marcel Holyoak

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Evening Grosbeaks

Credit: pellino57

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.

Evening Grosbeak (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · 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
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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)

result:1057-evening-grosbeak-male:1:1 Source: 1057 Evening Grosbeak (Male), row 1

Evening Grosbeak (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 6

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Uniform · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · 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 between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · 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)

result:1058-evening-grosbeak-female:1:1 Source: 1058 Evening Grosbeak (Female), row 1