Pine Grosbeak

Pine grosbeaks are the larger members of the finch family found in the boreal forests. Sexual dimorphism is present among males and females. They are stocky, plump and heavy-chested with strong, short, and cone-shaped bills. The nine recognized subspecies of pine grosbeak vary in body size, bill shape and size, as well as in leg, tail and wing lengths.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Fringillidae
Genus	Pinicola
Species	Pinicola enucleator

Quick Information

Similar Species	House Finch, Purple Finch, White-winged Crossbill, Evening Grosbeak
Other Names	Pine Rosefinch
Size	20-25.5 cm (7-10 in) long
Wingspan	12-13 in
Weight	52-78 g (1.8-2.8 oz)
Color	Adults possess a long black tail and wings and white wing bars; red back and head in males; olive-yellow head with gray back and under parts in females; juveniles have dull colors
Distribution	Alaska, Canada, mountains of the Western United States, Siberia, Subarctic Fennoscandia
Habitat	Coniferous, Deciduous, and mixed forests as well as cities and suburban areas
Nesting	May – July
Sounds	Their call includes a whistled pui pui pui or chii-vii; songs consist of clear, warbling, flute-like notes; flight calls are like tee-tee-tew
Lifespan	Up to 9.8 years in the wild
Diet	They feed on seeds, fruits, and buds; occasionally eat insects
Clutch Size	2-4 eggs
Number of Broods	1 per year
Incubation Period	13-14 days
Predators and Competition	Wolves, lynxes and hawks
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Behavior

They travel from one place to another in search of food, foraging in shrubs and trees. During the breeding season, they usually remain in pairs; however, they remain in larger flocks the rest of the year.

Breeding and nesting

Pine grosbeaks are monogamous. They typically build their nest in dense foliage on horizontal branches close to the trunk of the tree. Females usually build the nest, which is made up of twig lined with grass, moss, and lichen.

Lifecycle

During incubation, the male brings food for the female. After hatching, both male and female feed the young. Fledging takes place after about 2 weeks from hatching. Sometimes the young ones depend on their parents for food even after fledging.

Interesting Facts

• They are quite vocal and are known to mimic the songs and calls of other species.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_grosbeak
2. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Grosbeak/id
3. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pine-grosbeak
4. http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird/pine_grosbeak
5. http://www.arkive.org/pine-grosbeak/pinicola-enucleator/