Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus

TAXONOMY:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Pheucticus
Species: ludovicianus

MORPHOLOGY:

Male: In summer the entire head and back (dorsal side) are black. There is a red triangle on the breast. The bill is light orange in color. There are white wing bars and the undertail coverts are white. In the winter similar to summer except there are brown edges on the back and head.
Female: Has a large white eyebrow on a brown colored head. Dorsal side is brown with streaking. On the ventral side (breast and belly) it is white with heavy streaking. The bill is paler in color as compared to the male.
Immature: The immature male is similar to the female except for a rose colored triangle on a breast which is buffy in color. Also has rosy areas under the wings visible during flight.

FOOD: Eats insects, seeds, fruits, and buds (Ehrlich et al., 1988).

MATING SYSTEM: monogamous (Ehrlich et al., 1988).

BREEDING SYSTEM:

Where Breeds: Breeds in scrub wooodland and shrubby growth by streams, woodland edges, and in parkland shrubbery (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).

Nest: The nest is found in a shrub or small tree, in a twig fork 4-20 ft. high (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is a loose cup made out of small twigs, coarse grasses, weed stems, and decayed leaves (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is lined with fine twigs, rootlets, and hair (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The nest is built by the female with help from the male (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).

Breeding Season: The breeding season begins from mid to late May (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). This species is double-brooded (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Eggs: There are between 3-5 eggs laid in a clutch (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The eggs are subelliptical to short subelliptical in shape and light blue to greenish-blue in background color (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The eggs are speckled reddish-brown or purplish-red with more markings toward the larger end (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The average size of an egg is 25 X 18 mm (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Incubation: The incubation period lasts from 12-14 days and is done by both sexes (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).
Nestling: The young are born altricial and downy, with the down being white with gray on the head in color (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The mouth is reddish-orange and the gape flanges yellow of the young (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The young fledge from the nest 9-12 days after hatching and are tended by both parents while in the nest (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997). The young are dependent on both parents for 3 weeks after fledging (Baicicich and Harrison, 1997).

MIGRATION STATUS IN WISCONSIN:
The rose-breasted grosbeak is a neotropical migrant.

REFERENCES:
Baicicich, P.J. and Harrison, C.J.O. 1997. A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, 2nd edition. Academic Press: San Diego.

Ehrlich, P.R., Dobkin, D.S., and Wheye, D. 1988. The Birder’s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. Simon and Schuster, Inc.: New York.

Stokes, D.W. and Stokes, L.Q. 1996. Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region. Little, Brown and Co.: Boston.

Last Updated: March 27, 2005

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