• Home
  • Coniferous Animals
  • Coniferous Trees
  • About Us
  • Contact
Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Pine Grosbeak

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.

Pine Grosbeak Range

Pine Grosbeak Range

Pine Grosbeak Pictures

Pine Grosbeak Pictures

Scientific Classification

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

Pine Grosbeak Bird

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
Pine Grosbeak Images

Pine Grosbeak Images

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.

Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak Male and Female

Pine Grosbeak Male and Female

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.

Pine Grosbeak Egg

Pine Grosbeak Egg

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.

Pine Grosbeak Female

Pine Grosbeak Female

Interesting Facts

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

Pine Grosbeaks

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. https://nhpbs.org/wild/pinegrosbeak.asp

Published on July 23rd 2016 by Sajal Datta under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 2nd December 2022.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    • Recent Posts

      • Cedar Tree of Lebanon
      • Eastern Red Cedar
      • Black-backed Woodpecker
      • Eastern Gray Squirrel
      • Bohemian Waxwing
      • Norway Spruce
      • Douglas Squirrel
      • Northern Goshawk
      • Bighorn Sheep
      • Eastern Milk Snake
      • Ovenbird
      • California Redwood
      • Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
      • Foxtail Pine
      • Snow Goose
    • Categories

      • Coniferous Forest Animals
      • Coniferous Forest Plants and Trees
        • Cedar
        • Cypress
        • Fir
        • Hemlock
        • Juniper
        • Larch
        • Pine
        • Spruce
        • Yew

© 2023 (Coniferous Forest). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.