Photo: David F. Belmonte / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-backed Grosbeak
Pheucticus aureoventris
Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 9 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris) is a member of the Cardinalidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 49 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cardinalidae Cardinals & Allies
- Genus Pheucticus
- Species aureoventris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 49 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-backed Grosbeak is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-backed Grosbeak is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris) is a member of the Cardinalidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA w, sc.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 49 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 8.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 810,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-backed Grosbeak?
The Black-backed Grosbeak is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 49 g.
Where does the Black-backed Grosbeak live?
The Black-backed Grosbeak is found across South America with a range covering SA w, sc, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-backed Grosbeak belong to?
The Black-backed Grosbeak (Pheucticus aureoventris) belongs to the Cardinalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-backed Grosbeak eat?
The Black-backed Grosbeak is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Black-backed Grosbeak migrate?
The Black-backed Grosbeak is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-backed Grosbeak endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-backed Grosbeak make?
1 real field recording of the Black-backed Grosbeak — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-backed Grosbeak's range?
The Black-backed Grosbeak has a mapped global range of about 810,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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