Pheucticus melanocephalus
female
The Black-headed Grosbeak is large-billed songbird with similar proportions to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The sexes are dissimilar. Adult males have a streaked, dark brown back, dark wings with white wingbars, and a dark tail that contrasts with the buffish-orange rump. The head has a dark hood; the lower throat and rest of the underparts are orange-buff. Adult females have streaked brown upperparts and dark wings with two white wingbars. The head has a brown cap with a white supercilium. The throat is pale, but the underparts are otherwise pale orange-buff with faint streaking on the flanks. Juveniles are similar to an adult female but more heavily streaked. By their first winter immatures are similar to an adult female, but in males the underparts are tinged orange-buff more intensely than in females. In all birds, the underwing coverts are yellow.
The Black-headed Grosbeak is present as a breeding species in western North America mainly from May to August. It spends the rest of the year in Mexico.
male
male
FACT FILE
LENGTH 8.25 in (21 cm)
FOOD Mainly invertebrates in spring and summer; fruits and berries at other times
HABITAT Conifer forests
STATUS Widespread and common summer visitor
VOICE Song comprises warbling and whistling phrases, similar to those of both the American Robin and Hepatic Tanager. Call is a sharp eek
