Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Evening Grosbeaks are truly striking birds, and a treat to see in Oregon. They are known for their massive, conical bills, which are perfectly adapted for cracking large seeds. While they are found year-round in mountainous forests across Oregon, they can be more noticeable in lowland areas, especially during spring and winter when they may visit feeders.
Male Evening Grosbeak in Oregon:
Coloration: The male is a vibrant and unmistakable bird. He has a bold pattern of lemon yellow on his body, particularly on the belly and rump. This yellow often shades into olive or brownish on the back.
Head: His head is predominantly dark (often blackish or very dark brown), creating a striking contrast with a prominent, bright yellow stripe or "eyebrow" above each eye.
Wings: The wings are mostly black, but with a large, flashy white patch on the inner part of the wing (the secondaries). This white patch is very conspicuous in flight and even when perched.
Tail: The tail is black and relatively short.
Bill: He possesses a truly massive, pale, conical bill. In winter, it's typically a chalky white or ivory color, but it can turn a pale green in early spring.
Overall Impression: The male Evening Grosbeak looks robust and powerful, with a bold and somewhat exotic appearance.
Female Evening Grosbeak in Oregon:
Coloration: Females are much more subtly colored than males, designed for camouflage during nesting. They are generally an overall grayish or silvery-gray on the body.
Head: Their head is also grayish, sometimes with a yellowish or greenish tinge on the nape or sides of the neck. They lack the bright yellow eyebrow of the male, though they might have a faint, lighter stripe above the eye.
Wings: Like the males, females have black and white wings, but the white wing patches are usually less extensive and often appear as more broken white bars on the wings rather than a large solid patch.
Tail: The tail is blackish, sometimes with some white tips on the outer tail feathers.
Bill: They also have the characteristic large, pale, conical bill, similar in size and shape to the male's.
Overall Impression: While less flashy, the female's strong bill and the distinct black and white wing patterns still make her identifiable.
General Characteristics (Both Sexes):
Size: They are large, heavyset finches, about the size of a Robin, typically 6.3-7.1 inches (16-18 cm) long.
Bill: Their most defining feature is their enormous, powerful, conical bill, which allows them to easily crack open tough seeds.
Behavior: Evening Grosbeaks are highly social birds, often found in noisy flocks, especially outside of the breeding season. They have distinctive "sweet," "burry," or "sharp" call notes, which are often heard before the birds are seen, particularly when they are high in treetops. They are particularly fond of sunflower seeds at feeders.
Habitat in Oregon: They breed in coniferous and mixed forests in the mountainous regions of Oregon. In winter and during migration, they can descend into lower elevations, including urban and suburban areas, often attracted to trees with seeds (like elms and maples) and backyard bird feeders.
Male Evening Grosbeak in Oregon:
Coloration: The male is a vibrant and unmistakable bird. He has a bold pattern of lemon yellow on his body, particularly on the belly and rump. This yellow often shades into olive or brownish on the back.
Head: His head is predominantly dark (often blackish or very dark brown), creating a striking contrast with a prominent, bright yellow stripe or "eyebrow" above each eye.
Wings: The wings are mostly black, but with a large, flashy white patch on the inner part of the wing (the secondaries). This white patch is very conspicuous in flight and even when perched.
Tail: The tail is black and relatively short.
Bill: He possesses a truly massive, pale, conical bill. In winter, it's typically a chalky white or ivory color, but it can turn a pale green in early spring.
Overall Impression: The male Evening Grosbeak looks robust and powerful, with a bold and somewhat exotic appearance.
Female Evening Grosbeak in Oregon:
Coloration: Females are much more subtly colored than males, designed for camouflage during nesting. They are generally an overall grayish or silvery-gray on the body.
Head: Their head is also grayish, sometimes with a yellowish or greenish tinge on the nape or sides of the neck. They lack the bright yellow eyebrow of the male, though they might have a faint, lighter stripe above the eye.
Wings: Like the males, females have black and white wings, but the white wing patches are usually less extensive and often appear as more broken white bars on the wings rather than a large solid patch.
Tail: The tail is blackish, sometimes with some white tips on the outer tail feathers.
Bill: They also have the characteristic large, pale, conical bill, similar in size and shape to the male's.
Overall Impression: While less flashy, the female's strong bill and the distinct black and white wing patterns still make her identifiable.
General Characteristics (Both Sexes):
Size: They are large, heavyset finches, about the size of a Robin, typically 6.3-7.1 inches (16-18 cm) long.
Bill: Their most defining feature is their enormous, powerful, conical bill, which allows them to easily crack open tough seeds.
Behavior: Evening Grosbeaks are highly social birds, often found in noisy flocks, especially outside of the breeding season. They have distinctive "sweet," "burry," or "sharp" call notes, which are often heard before the birds are seen, particularly when they are high in treetops. They are particularly fond of sunflower seeds at feeders.
Habitat in Oregon: They breed in coniferous and mixed forests in the mountainous regions of Oregon. In winter and during migration, they can descend into lower elevations, including urban and suburban areas, often attracted to trees with seeds (like elms and maples) and backyard bird feeders.