Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are
passerines in the Cardinalidae family which consists of
Cardinals and some Grosbeaks. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are
about 9 inches (20cm) in size. They are dichromatic which
means that males and females do not look alike. Males
have a rosy-red breast patch, black head and upperparts
with white patches in their wings. They also have red
wing lining. Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have the
black and white crown stripes, with white underparts and
extensive streaking. They have dark gray upperparts and
yellow wing linings. Both sexes have a large, white-pink
conical shaped bill that is unique to the species.
Photo: Ivan Andrijevic
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
occupy a variety of habitats that includes deciduous and
mixed wooded uplands and lowlands. They can also be
found near water, thick brush, marsh borders and
overgrown pastures. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks breed from
northeast British Columbia, south through the Dakotas
and east to the Eastern Seaboard. They winter in Central
and northern South America. Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks can be found during the summer in the Western
New York area. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
forage from tree branches and eat primarily insects
mixed in with wild fruit and seeds during the breeding
season. In the winter, they eat primarily plant
material.
Photo: M. Noonan
Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
will sing while in flying pursuit of a female. Males
then crouch, swoops and droops wings. His tail is spread
and elevated while he raises his head so that his nape
is against his back. The male will continue to sing and
waves head and body in dance. The mating system of the
Rose-breasted Grosbeak is monogamous with 1-2 broods per
year. The male may choose the nest site and the female
will build the nest with help from the male. The female
will lay 4 pale green eggs, but both sexes will incubate
the eggs for 13-14 days. Young are altricial which means
they are blind, immobile and helpless. Both parents will
tend young until they are ready to fledge about 9-12
days after hatching. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are common
victims of brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds.
Any mature forested area in Western New
York during the summer could be a potential habitat for the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak. They spend much time in the canopy so they
sometimes may be hard to find.
