Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from Midwest Region, United States / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a member of the Cardinalidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 42 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 ludovicianus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 42 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Breeding male is boldly black-and-white with a brilliant rose-red triangle on the breast and pinkish-red (rose) underwing linings and a massive pale bill; female is brown and heavily streaked with a bold white eyebrow, whitish underparts, and contrasting yellowish underwing linings, resembling an oversized female finch or large sparrow.
Juvenile appearance
Immatures resemble the brown, streaky female; young males show a pinkish-buff wash on the throat/breast and pink wing linings, distinguishing them from females.
Breeding vs non-breeding
Yes: the non-breeding/fall male has brown-fringed (mottled, scaly-looking) upperparts and a buffy head stripe with a paler, washed-out rose breast, while still retaining the white wing patches.
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rose-breasted 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 Rose-breasted Grosbeak is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a member of the Cardinalidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA c Canada to se Canada, e USA and c USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 42 g, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a small bird that weighs around 42 g.
Where does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak live?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is found across North America with a range covering NA c Canada to se Canada, e USA and c USA, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak belong to?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) belongs to the Cardinalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak eat?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak migrate?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Rose-breasted 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 Rose-breasted Grosbeak make?
1 real field recording of the Rose-breasted 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 Rose-breasted Grosbeak's range?
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak has a mapped global range of about 4 million 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
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
How to Attract Rose-breasted Grosbeak to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract Rose-breasted Grosbeak to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (black-oil sunflower), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.