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Henry Sowell

Vol. I · Est. 2026

Pl. XXIII
Field-journal plate: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak plate as rendered on the e-ink frame
As rendered on the frame

The Birds · Plate XXIII

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Cardinalidae · Taxon 10271

Length18–21 cm (7.1–8.3 in)
Wingspan29–33 cm (11.4–13.0 in)
Weight39–49 g (1.4–1.7 oz)

Field marks

  1. Stocky, broad-chested songbird with a short neck and medium-length squared tail.
  2. Very large, thick triangular bill, pale horn-colored in the adult male.
  3. Adult male black above with crisp white wing patches and white underparts.
  4. Adult male has a vivid rose-red breast chevron below the black throat.
  5. White patches show in the wings and tail; males show pink-red underwings in flight.
  6. Female and immature are brown and heavily streaked, with a bold pale eyebrow and pale bill.

HabitatMoist deciduous or mixed woodland, especially second-growth woods, thickets, and shrubby forest edges; also uses semiopen wooded habitats.

BehaviorPrimarily a foliage gleaner; uses its stout bill for seeds, fruit, and insects, and may hover or fly out to catch insects.

Palette

glossy blackbright rose-redclean whitepale hornwarm brown