Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Unlike many songbirds, both the male and female take turns incubating eggs and will even sing to each other while switching places on the nest.
- Scientific name
- Pheucticus ludovicianus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Cardinalidae › Pheucticus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, orchards, and suburban parks with mature trees.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; primarily eats seeds and fruit, but switches to insects like beetles and caterpillars during the breeding season.
- Range
- North America, Central America, South America
- Size
- 18-21 cm in length, weighing 38-54 grams
- Lifespan
- 7-9 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation on breeding grounds and collisions with glass windows during migration.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Observe from a distance with binoculars to avoid disturbing nesting pairs. If you find an injured bird, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Do not handle without gloves to prevent stress to the bird.
The rose-breasted grosbeak ( Pheucticus ludovicianus ) is a large, seed-eating grosbeak in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It is primarily a foliage gleaner. It breeds in cool-temperate North America, migrating to tropical America in winter.
Photo: Cephas, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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