Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

The sweet, liquid, robin-like songs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are easily confused with several species. However, the black, white and rose colors of the males are unmistakable. Although the bright coloration would seem to stand out, these birds are often difficult to observe when singing from within foliage high in a tree. This species is associated with relatively open deciduous woods in both floodplains and uplands. It can be found in small woodland patches and forested corridors, both in rural areas and in well-forested urban neighborhoods.

Code Frequency

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were most easily discovered by song. Fledglings were more frequently reported than any other breeding code and parents were easily observed feeding young.

Distribution

Eighty-eight percent of the records occurred north of the 38°30'00" parallel of latitude, roughly the northern two-thirds of the state. Most observations south of this latitude were recorded in the possible category and may represent migrants or unmated pairs rather than breeding individuals. There were sparse breeding records in both the eastern and western edges of the Osage Plains and Ozark Border natural divisions. The summer range of this species does not extend into Arkansas (James and Neal 1986).

Average Number of Birds / 100 stops

Abundance

The abundance of this species peaks along the northern border of Missouri. Both the abundance and the distribution maps depict the southern periphery of the breeding range.

Phenology

Most nesting activity begins in mid- to late May. Second broods may have occurred, as suggested by nest and young observed from May 16 to July 10. Spring arrival begins in mid-April with departure by early October (Robbins and Easterla 1992).

Notes

Atlasers documented one instance of brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Cowbirds are common in the Glaciated Plains Natural Division so brood parasitism might be much higher than Atlas Project data indicated. Ehrlich et al. (1988) listed this species as a common host of cowbirds.

Breeding Evidence

Reported in 453 (37.5%) of 1,207 blocks

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