Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Black-headed Grosbeak is a chunky, distinctive songbird found throughout western North America. The male’s black head and contrasting black and white wings set off a bright cinnamon nape, back, and underside. The center of his belly shades to lemon yellow, then becomes white on the lower belly and undertail. The female Black-headed Grosbeak lacks the male’s dark head and is patterned in quieter shades of buff and brown, with fine striping along her flanks. Both sexes have yellow wing linings that are most conspicuous in flight, and the heavy, conical bill for which the species is named. That “gros” (big) beak is a notable feature of the Black-headed Grosbeak’s genus, which includes its eastern relative, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
While the Black-headed Grosbeak’s big beak easily cracks large seeds and hard-bodied insect prey, it also helps this bird secure a more unorthodox food. What is different about this grosbeak’s diet?
Read on to find out more: abcbirds.org/bird/black-headed-grosbeak
The Black-headed Grosbeak is a chunky, distinctive songbird found throughout western North America. The male’s black head and contrasting black and white wings set off a bright cinnamon nape, back, and underside. The center of his belly shades to lemon yellow, then becomes white on the lower belly and undertail. The female Black-headed Grosbeak lacks the male’s dark head and is patterned in quieter shades of buff and brown, with fine striping along her flanks. Both sexes have yellow wing linings that are most conspicuous in flight, and the heavy, conical bill for which the species is named. That “gros” (big) beak is a notable feature of the Black-headed Grosbeak’s genus, which includes its eastern relative, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
While the Black-headed Grosbeak’s big beak easily cracks large seeds and hard-bodied insect prey, it also helps this bird secure a more unorthodox food. What is different about this grosbeak’s diet?
Read on to find out more: abcbirds.org/bird/black-headed-grosbeak
