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Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
FIELD MARKS
The Black-headed Grosbeak has a large, heavy, conical bill, from which
it gets its name. The male has black on his head, throat, back, wings
and tail and his breast is dark orange. He has white patches on his wings
and tail. The female has a brown head, neck and back with 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 linings. Approximate length:
18 cm
FOOD
This grosbeak eats seeds, berries and insects.
HABITAT
The Black-headed Grosbeak prefers to live in deciduous and mixed woodlands.
It likes to be in areas where there are large trees as well as thick bushes,
such as in second-growth forests or near rivers and lakes.
NESTING
Nests are built in tall shrubs or trees. They are made of twigs, bark, fine
grass and conifer needles. The female lays 3-5 pale green, blue or grey
eggs that are spotted with reddish and dark brown.
STATUS
Stable. |
