Description

Distinguishing Features - MALE - Dull pinkish-red general colouration; feathers greyish; wings and tail blackish with white margins on tertials and secondaries; sides, lower abdomen and under tail gray; bill and legs, black.
FEMALE - more or less the same patterning as the male but plain grey in general colouration; crown and rump yellowy-olive to russet.

Size - 23 - 24.5 cm (9.25 - 9.75 in).

Habitat

In migration, favour decidious woodstands. During breeding, prefer open coniferous forest, near open areas. Can also be seen in enhabited areas around crab apple trees.

Nesting

Prefer coniferous trees. Flimsy nest is made of twigs, grass and moss, lined with fine grass and hair. Eggs, 4 - 5; greenish blue, dotted with brown and purplish-grey marks at the large end. Incubation period 13 - 14 days.

Notes

The song of the Pine Grosbeak consists of a series of two or three high-pitched whistles on a descending scale.

Return to Top of Page