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The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak has beautiful and bold markings, making it stand out amongst the trees. Males are black and white, with a bright red patch in the shape of a ‘V’ on the breast, as well as bright pink under the wings. Females are white, with heavy brown streaking, darker wings, a white eyebrow patch, and yellow wing linings. Both have heavy, pinkish-white bills.
Common to the Algonquin Highlands, the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is found particularly in areas of younger trees and streams. They have a beautiful song, much like that of the robin, but softer. Their call note is a sharp eek-eek.
The male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak performs a very involved and spectacular mating dance, sure to please any female. The body is placed in a crouching position, with the breast to the ground, head held back to reveal the nape of the neck, tail elevated and spread, and wings spread apart. While singing the mating song, the male moves around waving his head and wings, revealing the amazing contrast of the black, white, and rose under the wings.
Nests are set in a low branch of a tree, and are loosely made of twigs, grass, and plant fibers. They lay 4 to 5 purple-spotted white eggs.
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ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
Pheucticus ludovicianus
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