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Pheucticus ludovicianus

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

G5Secure Found in 107 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © Matt Zuro; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Matt Zuro; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © James Tornetta; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© James Tornetta; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © Baxter Beamer; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Baxter Beamer; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © Braydon Luikart; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Braydon Luikart; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © Grigory Heaton; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Grigory Heaton; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). © Mark Sak; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
© Mark Sak; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102231
Element CodeABPBX61030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyCardinalidae
GenusPheucticus
Other Common Names
Cardinal à poitrine rose (FR) Picogordo Pecho Rosa (ES) rose-breasted grosbeak (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Regarded as conspecific with P. melanocephalus by a few authors and constitutes a superspecies with it (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-03
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank Reasons
Widespread in central and eastern North America; common; stable population; no significant threats.
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: northeastern British Columbia and southern Mackenzie to Nova Scotia, south to southern Alberta, northern North Dakota, eastern Nebraska, Oklahoma, southern Missouri, Indiana, northern Georgia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. NORTHERN WINTER: generally from central Mexico to northern South America (Colombia and northern Venezuela, more rarely to Ecuador, central Peru, southern Venezuela, Guyana [once]), occasionally north to U.S. Rare in West Indies.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Second-growth woods, mature forest edge, borders of swamps and wooded streams, dense growths of small trees, gardens and parks, old orchards. In migration and winter in various forest, woodland, and scrub habitats; avoids interior of closed forest. Usually remains high in trees but sometimes descends to ground (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Nests usually in thickets or small trees, generally 2-5 m above ground.

Ecology

In winter, in flocks of 3-6, rarely up to 20 (Stiles and Skutch 1989).

Reproduction

Eggs are laid mostly in May-June. Clutch size is 3-5. Incubation lasts 12-14 days, by both sexes. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 9-12 days, dependent on adults for about 3 weeks more. Male may feed fledglings while female renests.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodWoodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5B
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS4BYes
Nova ScotiaS3BYes
Yukon TerritoryS1BYes
ManitobaS5BYes
OntarioS5BYes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
AlbertaS5BYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
New BrunswickS3BYes
Prince Edward IslandS2B,SUMYes
British ColumbiaS4BYes
United StatesN5B
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS4BYes
VirginiaS4Yes
MontanaSNAYes
New MexicoS4NYes
KansasS4BYes
ArkansasSNAYes
District of ColumbiaS3NYes
DelawareS1BYes
MarylandS3BYes
MississippiSNAYes
MinnesotaSNRBYes
LouisianaSNAYes
IdahoSNAYes
GeorgiaS4Yes
New JerseyS3B,S4NYes
WyomingS1Yes
IndianaS4BYes
New YorkS5BYes
South CarolinaS4Yes
ConnecticutS5BYes
West VirginiaS5BYes
OhioS5Yes
WisconsinS5BYes
NebraskaS4Yes
MichiganS5Yes
TennesseeS4B,S5NYes
MaineS5BYes
FloridaSNAYes
ArizonaS3NYes
North DakotaSNRBYes
PennsylvaniaS4BYes
KentuckyS3BYes
New HampshireS5BYes
TexasS4Yes
VermontS5BYes
OregonSNAYes
IowaS5B,S5NYes
ColoradoSNAYes
South DakotaS5BYes
Rhode IslandS4BYes
MassachusettsS5BYes
OklahomaS2BYes
UtahSNAYes
MissouriSNRBYes
IllinoisS5Yes
WashingtonSNAYes
AlabamaSNRMYes
Roadless Areas (107)
Arizona (3)
AreaForestAcres
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
California (4)
AreaForestAcres
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Colorado (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Georgia (2)
AreaForestAcres
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Idaho (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Maine (2)
AreaForestAcres
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Caribou - Speckled ExtWhite Mountain National Forest5,988
Michigan (1)
AreaForestAcres
FibreHiawatha National Forest7,432
Minnesota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Wood LakeSuperior National Forest596
Montana (2)
AreaForestAcres
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
New Hampshire (36)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
KearsargeWhite Mountain National Forest4,554
KearsargeWhite Mountain National Forest4,554
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Pemigewasset ExtWhite Mountain National Forest15,840
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Presidential - Dry River ExtWhite Mountain National Forest10,555
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
WatervilleWhite Mountain National Forest4,312
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
North Carolina (6)
AreaForestAcres
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Tennessee (4)
AreaForestAcres
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Vermont (14)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Devil's Den 09083Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests9,169
Devil's Den 09083Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests9,169
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Lye Brook Addition 09085Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,111
Lye Brook Addition 09085Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,111
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Wilder Mountain 09082Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests8,759
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Virginia (16)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beartown Addition BJefferson National Forest2,985
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Little Walker MountainJefferson National Forest9,818
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
Shawvers Run AdditionJefferson National Forest1,927
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pasayten RimOkanogan National Forest17,074
West Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Wyoming (2)
AreaForestAcres
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
References (29)
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  3. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
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  7. Hagan, J. M., III, and D. W. Johnston, editors. 1992. Ecology and conservation of neotropical migrant landbirds. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. xiii + 609 pp.
  8. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
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  18. Ridgely, R. S. 2002. Distribution maps of South American birds. Unpublished.
  19. Ridgely, R. S. and G. Tudor. 1989. The birds of South America. Volume 1. University of Texas Press, Austin, USA. 516 pp.
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  22. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
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  26. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
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  29. Zook, J. L. 2002. Distribution maps of the birds of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Unpublished.