Bird Guide

Black-headed Grosbeak vs Golden Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Small47 gForest

Measurements: Length: 7.1–7.5 in (18–19 cm) Weight: 1.2–1.7 oz (34–48 g) Wingspan: 12.6 inches (32 cm) The black-headed grosbeak is similar in size to a common starling. As per its name, the male has a black head, and black wings and tail with prominent white patches. Its breast is dark to tawny orange in color, and 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. 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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Black-headed Grosbeak
Recorded by Spenser Williams · Song · Dixon, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States · CC0
Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0
Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster)

Golden Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysogaster

Small56 gForest

The body averages 21 cm (8.3 in) in length. The bill is large and conical in shape, typical of most species in the family. The golden grosbeak is sexually dimorphic in plumage. Males are bright yellow with a black wing and back. They have white spots on their median and greater wing-coverts that wear over time, and older birds appear darker. The females have brown wings and brown streaks covering the head, flanks, back and rump. The immature of this species look similar to the female in plumage and is often not distinguishable in the field.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Golden Grosbeak
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · San Antonio De Los Altos (near Parroquia Macarao), Los Salias, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Adam Jackson · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-headed Grosbeak and Golden Grosbeak.