Black-headed grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 7.25 inches
• Large, conical bill
• Yellow wing linings

Adult male:

• Deep orange breast, collar and underparts
• Black head and upperparts
• White undertail coverts
• White wing bars and wing patches
• White spots in black tail
• Male in Fall and Winter is duller, browner

Adult female:

• Black and white crown stripes
• Buffy underparts with streaking at the sides
• Dark gray upperparts
• Immature plumages similar to adult female

Similar species:

Female-plumaged Black-headed Grosbeak is very similar to female-plumaged Rose-breasted Grosbeak but has buffier breast and has streaking confined to the sides.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.