• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
The Land Between

The Land Between

Explore - Learn - Inspire

  • About Us
    • The Team
    • How We Operate
    • Strategic Paths
    • Our Impact
    • Our Partners & Supporters
    • Contact Info & Our Public Centre
  • About the Region
    • Geography, Wildlife, Species at Risk, Culture, History
  • Our Projects
    • Leading Projects
    • Special Projects
  • Learning Centre
    • Honouring Our Shared History
    • Living in the The Land Between
    • Feeding the Land Between
    • Knowledge Circles
    • Community Talks
    • Regional Research Results
  • You Can Help
    • Report a Species
    • Volunteer
    • Shop Our Store
    • Donate
  • News & Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • TLB Blogs
    • The Skink Newsletter

Evening Grosbeak

(Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Status: Special Concern (ESA 2018, SARA 2019)

Table of Contents:

  • Species Identification
  • Diet
  • Habitat and Range
  • Biology and Behaviour
  • Similar Species
  • Threats/Reasons for Being Endangered
  • Conservation and Recovery Strategies
  • How You Can Help
Evening Grosbeak
A male Evening Grosbeak
A male Evening Grosbeak

Species Identification:

The Evening Grosbeak is a robin-sized finch, notable for its bold colours and large bill. The male has a black head with a thick yellow streak across his face. The body is golden-yellow, and wings are black with white patches. The female is a more subtle yellow with black and white streaked wings. Their thick bill is very powerful and can easily crush cherry pits.

Diet:

During outbreaks, more than 80% of their diet consists of Spruce Budworm pupae and larvae. Spruce Budworm will harm trees by eating buds and leaves, so Evening Grosbeaks are an important predator. They also feed on other insects like caterpillars and aphids. Outbreaks of Spruce Budworm in Ontario are related to summer and winter minimum temperatures, which are being affected by climate change. The outbreaks are also related to the forest composition, especially the presence of Balsam Fir and White Spruce. Between outbreaks, Evening Grosbeaks rely on seeds and berry pits from shrubs and trees. In the winter, they are attracted to berry-producing ornamental plants and feeders, especially those with sunflower seeds. They will also drink maple sap by snapping off small twigs.

Back to top of page

A female Evening Grosbeak
A female Evening Grosbeak
Map taken from: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Evening_Grosbeak/maps-range
Map taken from: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Evening_Grosbeak/maps-range

Habitat and Range:

The majority of the Evening Grosbeak’s habitat is within the Boreal forest in Canada. Their range extends across the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and into the southern edge of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The range extends south of the border into some northwest states like Washington and Oregon, and in the east from Minnesota across to Maine. There are isolated populations in the interior of Mexico, and some scattered across the southern United States. Historically this species was only found on the western half of the continent, but it has moved eastward over the past century, following the spread of spruce budworm outbreaks.

Within Canada, Evening Grosbeak populations are highest in BC, Ontario, and Quebec. Ontario is home to 12.8% of the global population of Evening Grosbeaks, or about 500,000 individuals. It breeds across Ontario with higher concentrations in the Lake of the Woods region, east of Georgian Bay, and along the southern edge of the Canadian Shield (including The Land Between). 

The Evening Grosbeak lives in mixed-wood or coniferous forests. Dominant trees are typically firs, spruces, larch, pine, and aspen. Nesting habitat includes large, mature trees with open canopies. Only some flocks of Evening Grosbeaks will migrate to the United States for the winter, most others will remain behind.

Back to top of page

Biology and Behaviour:

Evening Grosbeaks are irregular breeders in Ontario since they follow Spruce Budworm outbreaks and base their breeding off of their success. Any adults that migrate to the United States for the winter arrive at their Ontario breeding grounds in late April or early May. Females build a nest high on a conifer branch out of twigs and roots. They lay 3-4 eggs which are incubated for about two weeks. Nestlings are fed for another two weeks before they leave the nest. Researchers have recorded the oldest Evening Grosbeak to be 15 years old, but the average age is around 3-4 years. Known predators include raptors and domestic cats, and nests may be preyed on by corvids.

EveningGrosbeakBio

Similar Species:

  • The American Goldfinch is much smaller with a smaller bill, and male has a black cap
  • The female Evening Grosbeak looks similar to the Pine Grosbeak, but the Pine Grosbeak has a black beak and is more grey-tinged than yellow

Back to top of page

Threats/ Reasons for being at Risk:

1. Loss and fragmentation of breeding habitat: Commercial logging practices reduce the area of mature forests, the number of mature trees, and change forest composition. Many forests are also being lost to urbanization.

2. Window collisions: Evening Grosbeaks are one of the top 10 most common species to collide with windows, especially during migration and while at private feeders.

3. Application of road salt: Evening Grosbeaks are attracted to salt and grit from roadsides. Direct mortality due to toxicity and inadvertent car collisions are common threats for this species.

4. Climate change: Changes in tree composition (i.e. fewer balsam fir) results in habitat loss, and extreme weather events and sudden cold snaps impact the Evening Grosbeak, as well as many other species.

5. Human interventions to control Spruce Budworm: Chemical pesticides used during outbreaks have broader toxicological effects, and habitat quality is degraded when infected trees are logged. A 1979 estimate placed the value of Evening Grosbeaks at about $1000/ square km during a Spruce Budworm outbreak in Washington State.

EveningGrosbeakConservation

Conservation and recovery strategies:

An estimated 9% of their Canadian habitat is on protected land, with most of their range on public land. More research on their northern range should be conducted. Surveys tend to be biased towards southern parts of their range which are more heavily populated. Since this species is listed as Special Concern in Ontario, there are no direct conservation efforts for population and habitat at this time.

Back to top of page

How can you help?

  1. Reduce the potential for window collisions on your property by using window decals and  drawing blinds when possible. Advocate for your town or municipality to require bird-safe glass on new buildings (e.g. see FLAP Canada’s website).
  2. Keep sunflower seeds in your birdfeeder. 
  3. Never over-apply salt on roadways and sidewalks. Consider using sand or other non-toxic options. 
  4. Support sustainable forestry by buying FSC-certified wood and paper products.

Quick Facts:

  • The unexpected presence of an Evening Grosbeak may be an early indicator of Spruce Budworm infestation
  • Populations of Evening Grosbeaks increased after decades of fire suppression resulted in more available boreal forest habitat. Numbers have been declining in relation to increased logging of these forests
  • Evening Grosbeaks show a strong preference for Manitoba Maple seeds, which are often planted ornamentally
EveningGrosbeakSARbackgrounds
EveningGrosbeakResources

Additional Resources:

  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology page
  • FLAP Canada’s website at https://flap.org/ 
  • See the Hinterlands Who’s Who page for fun facts and pictures
  • COSEWIC Assessment and Status report, 2016

Sources:

COSEWIC. 2016. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xi + 64 pp.

Hoar, T. 2007. Evening Grosbeak. Pages 626-627 in Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005. Edited by M.D. Cadman, D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier. Published by Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Nature. 706 pp

Back to top of page

Interested in learning more about birds? Check out our blogs!

black capped chickadee

7 Cool Facts About Black-capped Chickadees

February 28, 2023

Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are the cutest and most easily recognizable birds we have here in The Land Between. They are curious, energetic, and downright acrobatic! Earning their names from …

Read More
golden crowned kinglet (2)-3

Declining Bird Numbers

February 28, 2023

While you might not always see a beaver or a white-tailed deer on an everyday basis, you can always rely on seeing birds wherever you go. And while is true, …

Read More
Ruby-throated-humming-bird-male

What is happening to our humming bird populations?

July 4, 2022

Hummingbird Population Trends: What You Should Know Many North American bird populations are in decline, but does this include hummingbird species? This question was investigated in a recent research article …

Read More
Cat and bird

Keep Your Cats Indoors: Disappearing Birds

June 13, 2022

A study of 500 species of birds in Canada and the US was published in the prestigious journal Science in September 2019. It found that in the last 50 years, 3 …

Read More
swallows

Where Are All the Birds?

October 18, 2021

Birds are extremely fascinating creatures with their colourful feathers and sing-song calls. Yet, whenever I watch them gracefully gliding through the air it is almost impossible to fathom that they …

Read More
Black-capped-Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadees- The Cheeseburger Birds

March 1, 2021

Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are the most easily recognizable birds we have here in The Land Between (beyond, perhaps, BlueJays), and we think you might agree they are the “cutest” …

Read More
bobolink

Bringing Birdwatching to The Land Between

January 14, 2021

There are 291 species of birds known to breed within the province. Of these 204 species that breed in The Land Between. But over 300 species visit this area. Despite …

Read More
Common-Loon-2 (2)

Are We Losing the Loons?

January 9, 2021

What is Happening to Our Loons in Ontario?   The Common Loon (Gavia immer) is Ontario’s provincial bird and a well-known character in cottage country – its mournful wails and …

Read More
Whip-poor-will2881leora

Nightjars While Nest-Watching: A Personal Account

July 8, 2020

A Personal Review of Turtle Nesting Season and the Excitement of Bird-watching   Written by Xavier Tuson,  Conservation Technician for The Land Between Turtle nesting season has just finished. I …

Read More
cat

Keep Your Fur-Child and Wildlife Safe (Apocalypse Meow)

January 14, 2020

Keep Your Fur Child & Wildlife Safe (aka. Apocalypse Meow) We tend to love and dote upon our pets. We treat them as our children, and post photos of their silly …

Read More

 

  • Home
  • The Region
  • The Charity
  • Shop
  • Donate

 

 

The Land Between is a National Charity #805849916RR0001.

Your support helps us celebrate, conserve, and enhance this important region. You can reach us at:

P.O. Box 1368, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
705-457-1222 | info@thelandbetween.ca

We respectfully acknowledge that The Land Between is located within Williams Treaty 20 Mississauga Anishinaabeg territory and Treaty 61 Robinson-Huron treaty territory, in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We respectfully acknowledge that these First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.

Copyright © 2022 The Land Between