Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

OTHER NAMES: Cut-throat
Latin Etymology: Pheucticus ("shy/to flee") ludovicianus ("Louisiana")

 

Near-mature Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota, 2024  - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 43-45g  /  Length: 18-22cm  /  Wingspan: 29-33cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A solid finch-like bird of the cardinal family, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is found in open deciduous woodland where it feeds on insects, seeds and berries. The colloquial name "cut-throat" comes from the distinctive pinkish-red plumage on the males which looks like it is bleeding from a straight line beneath the black hoodd.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Pheucticus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North Eastern States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pheucticus ("shy") melanocephalus ("black headed")

Juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) at San Jose, California - August 2022 - Handled by Licenced Ringers

Featured Subspecies: unclear
Weight: 34-38g  /  Length: 18-19cm  /  Wingspan: 32cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A robust finch species and relative of the cardinal, the Black-headed Grosbeak is one of the few species that is able to eat monarch butterflies, which are usually toxic due to the milkweed they feed on. Interestingly, the same genetic solution to being protected from the milkweed toxins that the monarch has developed evolved in parralel in the grosbeak!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Pheucticus
SUBSPECIES: P. m. maculatus, P. m. melanocephalus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in the Western half of the Lower 48
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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