The Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus, is a medium-size seed-eating
bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, the
Cardinalidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, P. ludovicianus, with which it hybridises on the Great Plains.
The 19 cm long, 47 g weight Black-headed Grosbeak is a migratory bird, with nesting
grounds from southwestern British Columbia, through the western half of the
United States, into central Mexico. It occurs as an
accidental further south in Central America.
Description
Adult male(left) and female(right)
Adult female breading plumage (May)
The Black-headed Grosbeak's approximate length is 18-19 cm or 6-1/2 to 7-3/4 inches in length and is similar in size to a
Common Starling. As per its name the male has a black head. It also has black wings
and tail with prominent white patches. Its breast is dark to tawny orange in color. Its belly is yellow. The female has a brown
head, neck and back with sparrow-like black streaks. She also has white streaks down the middle of her head, over her eyes and on
her cheeks. Her breast is white and her wings and tail are greyish-brown with two white wing bars and yellowish wing edges.
Habitat
The Black-headed Grosbeak prefers to live in deciduous and mixed wooded areas. It likes to be in areas where there are large
trees as well as thick bushes, such as patches of broadleaved trees and shrubs within conifer forests, including streamside
corridors, river bottoms, lakeshores, wetlands, and suburban areas. It also seems to avoid coniferous vegetation.
Nesting
Nests are built by the female among the dense foliage on an outer branch of tall broadleaved trees or shrubs, 3-35’ above
ground and are in the shape of an open saucer. They will occasionally build in dense shrubs such as blackberry. They are made of
fine grass, rootlets twigs, bark and conifer needles. The nest is often lined with rootlets, hair, and fine plant material. The
female lays 2-5 pale green, blue or grey eggs that are spotted with reddish and dark brown. The eggs are incubated by the male
and female for 12-14 days. After the eggs have hatched the fledglings leave the nest in about 11 or 12 days, however they are
unable to fly for another two weeks. The young are fed by both adults. The Black-headed Grosbeak's monogamy is under study, but
pair bonds generally last for only one breeding season. They typically have one brood per season, though double-broods have been
documented in foothills of the Sacramento Valley in California.
Voice
The Grosbeak’s song is a rich warble that is similar to that of an American Robin but
more fluent, faster, softer, sweeter and mellow with rising and falling passages that make the song much longer than the Robin’s.
The note is a sharp ik or eek. Both the male and female sing, but have different songs.
Diet
The Black-headed Grosbeak eats pine and other seeds, berries and insects, spiders and fruit. During the summer months it
mostly eats spiders, snails and insects. It is one of the few
birds that can safely eat the poisonous monarch butterfly. In their wintering grounds
this grosbeak consumes many monarchs and many seeds. It will come to bird feeders for sunflower and other types of seed, and
fruit.
Range and migration
Black-Headed Grosbeak Range
Black-headed Grosbeaks range from the Pacific coast to the middle of the US Great Plains and from south western Canada to the
mountains of Mexico. US and Canadian are highly migratory, wintering in Mexico. In the
Great Plains the range of the Black-headed Grosbeak and the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks overlap and have interbred somewhat. After
the breeding season, they tend to seek out berry-rich areas. They migrate south early in the fall and return to the north late in
the spring and have been known to do so in flocks.
Behavior
Black-headed Grosbeaks frequently sing from prominent perches. Both the male and female sing, but have different songs, and
both are known to sing from the nest while incubating. When trying to court a female, males fly with their wings and tails
spread. They forage in the foliage, on the ground or in low vegetation and are prominent berry eaters.
References
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External links
Further reading
Book
- Hill, G. E. 1995. Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus). In The Birds of North America, No. 143 (A. Poole
and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.
Report
- Ralph CJ, Paton PWC & Taylor CA. (1991). Habitat Association Patterns of Breeding Birds and Small Mammals in
Douglas-Fir-Hardwood Stands in Northwestern California and Southwestern Oregon. U S Forest Service General Technical Report
PNW. vol 285, p. 379-393.
Thesis
- Bagne KE. Ph.D. (2006). The effects of prescribed burning in the spring on avian communities in the Sierra Nevada of
California. University of California, Riverside, United States -- California.
- Kroodsma RL. Ph.D. (1970). NORTH DAKOTA SPECIES PAIRS. I. HYBRIDIZATION IN BUNTINGS, GROSBEAKS, AND ORIOLES. II.
SPECIES-RECOGNITION BEHAVIOR OF TERRITORIAL MALE ROSE-BREASTED AND BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS (PHEUCTICUS). North Dakota State
University, United States -- North Dakota.
- Leonard M. Ph.D. (2003). Singing on the nest: A review and an experimental study of this seemingly paradoxical
behavior. The University of New Mexico, United States -- New Mexico.
- Ritchison GK. Ph.D. (1980). SINGING BEHAVIOR OF THE BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, PHEUCTICUS MELANOCEPHALUS, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE
FUNCTION OF SINGING BY FEMALES. Utah State University, United States -- Utah.
Articles
- Airola DA & Barrett RH. (1985). Foraging and Habitat Relationships of Insect-Gleaning Birds in a Sierra-Nevada USA
Mixed-Conifer Forest. Condor. vol 87, no 2. p. 205-216.
- Alsop FJ, III. (1969). Black-Headed Grosbeak in Tennessee. Migrant. vol 40, no 3. p. 59-60.
- Anderson BW & Daugherty RJ. (1974). Characteristics and Reproductive Biology of Grosbeaks Pheucticus in the Hybrid
Zone in South-Dakota USA. Wilson Bulletin. vol 86, no 1. p. 1-11.
- Blakesley JA & Reese KP. (1988). Avian Use of Campground and Noncampground Sites in Riparian Zones. Journal of
Wildlife Management. vol 52, no 3. p. 399-402.
- Calvert WH, Hedrick LE & Brower LP. (1979). Mortality of the Monarch Butterfly Danaus-Plexippus Avian Predation at 5
over Wintering Sites in Mexico. Science. vol 204, no 4395. p. 847-851.
- Casto SD. (1976). Host Records and Observations of Quill Mites Acarina Syringophilidae from Texas USA Birds.
Southwestern Entomologist. vol 1, no 4. p. 155-160.
- De Long WC. (1969). The Black-Headed Grosbeak in Western Iowa USA. Iowa Bird Life. vol 39, no 2.
- Donnelly R & Marzluff JM. (2006). Relative importance of habitat quantity, structure, and spatial pattern to birds in
urbanizing environments. Urban Ecosystems. vol 9, no 2. p. 99-117.
- Fink LS & Brower LP. (1981). Birds Can Overcome the Cardenolide Defense of Monarch Butterflies Danaus-Plexippus in
Mexico. Nature. vol 291, no 5810. p. 67-70.
- Gardali T, Holmes AL, Small SL, Nur N, Geupel GR & Golet GH. (2006). Abundance patterns of landbirds in restored and
remnant riparian forests on the Sacramento River, California, USA. Restoration Ecology. vol 14, no 3. p. 391-403.
- Gardali T & Nur N. (2006). Site-specific survival of Black-Headed Grosbeaks and spotted towhees at four sites within
the Sacramento Valley, California. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. vol 118, no 2. p. 178-186.
- Ginter DL & Desmond MJ. (2004). Avian mortality during fall 2001 migration at communication towers along the Rio
Grande corridor in southern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 49, no 3. p. 414-417.
- Ginter DL & Desmond MJ. (2005). Avian mortality during fall 2001 migration at communication towers along the Rio
Grande corridor in southern New Mexico (vol 49, pg 414, 2004). Southwestern Naturalist. vol 50, no 4.
- Goldberg M & Goldberg I. (1972). Black-Headed Grosbeak in Dakota County. Loon. vol 44, no 4. p.
121-122.
- Goodwin CE. (1974). Ontario Ornithological Records Committee Report for 1973. Ontario Field Biologist. vol 28,
no 1. p. 7-14.
- Gordon DC. (1969). Black-Headed Grosbeak at Watertown. Kingbird. vol 19, no 1.
- Hettish A. (1974). Report on Black-Headed Grosbeak Murfreesboro. Migrant. vol 45, no 3. p. 72-73.
- Hill GE. (1986). Severe Aggression between Female Black-Headed Grosbeaks Pheucticus-Melanocephalus. Wilson Bulletin.
vol 98, no 3. p. 486-488.
- Hill GE. (1987). Aging and Sexing Black-Headed Grosbeaks in Alternate Plumage. Journal of Field Ornithology. vol
58, no 3. p. 311-317.
- Hill GE. (1988). Age Plumage Brightness Territory Quality and Reproductive Success in the Black-Headed Grosbeak.
Condor. vol 90, no 2. p. 379-388.
- Hill GE. (1988). The Function of Delayed Plumage Maturation in Male Black-Headed Grosbeaks. Auk. vol 105, no 1.
p. 1-10.
- Hill GE. (1989). Late Spring Arrival and Dull Nuptial Plumage Aggression Avoidance by Yearling Males. Animal
Behaviour. vol 37, no 4. p. 665-673.
- Hill GE. (1994). Testis mass and subadult plumage in Black-headed Grosbeaks. Condor. vol 96, no 3. p.
626-630.
- Huber RL. (1974). More Black-Headed Grosbeak Reports. Loon. vol 46, no 3.
- Hyde E. (1977). Black-Headed Grosbeak at Pierre. South Dakota Bird Notes. vol 29, no 2. p. 42-43.
- Koch G. (1971). The Black-Headed Grosbeak in South-Charleston and St-Albans West-Virginia March and April 1971.
Redstart. vol 38, no 4.
- Kosh FT. (1969). Black-Headed Grosbeak at Wilmington North-Carolina. Chat. vol 33, no 4.
- Kroodsma RL. (1971). North-Dakota Species Pairs Part 1 Hybridization in Buntings Grosbeaks and Orioles Part 2 Species
Recognition Behavior of Territorial Male Rose-Breasted and Black-Headed Grosbeaks Pheucticus. Dissertation Abstracts
International B Sciences & Engineering. vol 32, no 3.
- Kroodsma RL. (1974). Hybridization in Grosbeaks Pheucticus in North-Dakota USA. Wilson Bulletin. vol 86, no 3.
p. 230-236.
- Kroodsma RL. (1974). Species Recognition Behavior of Territorial Male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and Black-Headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus. Auk. vol 91, no 1. p. 54-64.
- Ligon JD. (1968). Starvation of Spring Migrants in the Chiricahua Mountains Arizona USA Pirango-Ludoviciana
Pheucticus-Melanocephalus Wilsonia-Pusilla Otus-Flammeolus. Condor. vol 70, no 4. p. 387-388.
- Odell EA & Knight RL. (2001). Songbird and medium-sized mammal communities associated with exurban development in
Pitkin County, Colorado. Conservation Biology. vol 15, no 4. p. 1143-1150.
- Ortega CP & Ortega JC. (2003). Comparison of black-headed grosbeaks nesting in riparian and Gambel oak pastures in
southwestern Colorado. Southwestern Naturalist. vol 48, no 3. p. 383-388.
- Parker AL. (1973). Black-Headed Grosbeak at Atlanta Georgia. Oriole. vol 38, no 2-3.
- Parker AL. (1974). Black-Headed Grosbeak at Atlanta Georgia. Condor. vol 76, no 3.
- Pence DB & Casto SD. (1976). Nasal Mites of the Subfamily Speleognathinae Ereynetidae from Birds in Texas USA.
Journal of Parasitology. vol 62, no 3. p. 466-469.
- Ritchison G. (1981). Distraction Behavior in the Black-Headed Grosbeak Pheucticus-Melanocephalus. Inland Bird Banding.
vol 53, no 3. p. 49-53.
- Ritchison G. (1983). The Function of Singing in Female Black-Headed Grosbeaks Pheucticus-Melanocephalus Family Group
Maintenance. Auk. vol 100, no 1. p. 105-116.
- Ritchison G. (1983). Possible Deceptive Use of Song by Female Black-Headed Grosbeaks Pheucticus-Melanocephalus.
Condor. vol 85, no 2. p. 250-251.
- Ritchison G. (1985). Variation in the Songs of Female Black-Headed Grosbeaks Pheucticus-Melanocephalus. Wilson
Bulletin. vol 97, no 1. p. 47-56.
- Ritchison G. (1985). Vocalizations of the Black-Headed Grosbeak Pheucticus-Melanocephalus. Western Birds. vol
16, no 3. p. 143-145.
- Swenson NG. (2006). Gis-based niche models reveal unifying climatic mechanisms that maintain the location of avian hybrid
zones in a North American suture zone. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. vol 19, no 3. p. 717-725.
- Willard T. (1995). Black-headed grosbeak at feeder in Perry, GA. Oriole. vol 60, no 1. p. 8-10.
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