Hooded Grosbeak

The hooded grosbeak is a large, stocky bird with a very thick bill. It is 15 to 18.5 cm (5.9 to 7.3 in) long and weighs about 50 g (1.8 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies H. a. abeillei have a entirely black head and throat. Their mantle, back, and scapulars are yellow-olive to light olive-green and their lower back and rump a brighter yellow. Their uppertail coverts are black or yellow with some feathers tipped with black. Their tail is black and has a shallow fork. Voice: The hooded grosbeak's song is "clipped, slightly metallic, burry rolling phrases often preceded by calls, described as beenk beenk eihrr-r, wheirr whrr, beehn beehn bee-beihr, be-be jerr chee, be-be chee; a buzzing wij-ee-er-tee; or bee-bink-beeaw. At least in Guatemala the sexes have different calls. The male's are "a loud, ringing peet!-peet! and peet!-peet!