Pine Grosbeak

Pinicola enucleator

Because they breed in remote northern forests with few humans, they lack natural fear and are historically nicknamed 'mopes' for their incredibly calm, trusting demeanor.

Scientific name

Pinicola enucleator

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Fringillidae › Pinicola

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

forest

Habitat

Boreal coniferous forests, subalpine zones, and mixed woodlands.

Diet

Mainly seeds, buds, and berries (especially rowan/mountain ash), supplemented by insects in summer.

Range

North America, Northern Europe, Siberia, Japan

Size

Length: 20-25 cm, Wingspan: 33 cm, Weight: 50-80 g

Lifespan

3 to 6 years in the wild, up to 9 years recorded.

Active

diurnal

Threats

Habitat loss from logging of mature boreal forests, climate change altering conifer ranges, and window collisions in urban wintering areas.

Safe to approach?

Pine Grosbeaks are completely harmless and famously tame, often allowing humans to approach very closely. Maintain a respectful distance of 5 to 10 feet to avoid stressing the bird. They pose no physical danger; however, if a bird is injured and must be handled, wear gloves to prevent a pinch from its powerful, seed-cracking bill.

The pine grosbeak ( Pinicola enucleator ) is a large member of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is found in coniferous woods across Alaska, the western mountains of the United States, Canada, and in subarctic Fennoscandia and Siberia. The species is a frugivore, especially in winter, favoring small fruits, such as rowans (mountain-ashes in the New World). With fruit-crop abundance varying from year to year, pine grosbeak is one of many subarctic-resident bird species that exhibit irruptive...

Photo: Richard Littauer, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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