Bird Guide

Black-headed Grosbeak vs Rose-breasted 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
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Small42 gForest

Adult birds are 18–22 cm (7.1–8.7 in) long, span 29–33 cm (11–13 in) across the wings and weigh 35–65 g (1.2–2.3 oz). Grosbeaks measured during migration in the West Indies averaged 43 g (1.5 oz), while those banded in Pennsylvania average about 45 g (1.6 oz). Very little sexual dimorphism in size is seen; females were found to be marginally smaller in standard measurements, but in some seasons were marginally heavier than males when banded in Pennsylvania. At all ages and in both sexes, the beak is dusky horn-colored, and the feet and eyes are dark.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Wild River State Park, Chisago County, Minnesota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from Midwest Region, United States · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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