How to attract black-headed grosbeaks to your yard
Black-headed Grosbeaks respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 15 states and provinces.
First: is it in your area, and when?
You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. It arrives only to breed in 15, such as Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and 9 more, so set up before spring arrival.
Plant what black-headed grosbeaks use
These native plants are tied to the Black-headed Grosbeak in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.
| Plant | Type | States | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Shrub | 14 | Red fruit heads hang on through winter. |
| Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Perennial | 14 | Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches. |
| Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial | 13 | Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows. |
| Common sunflower Helianthus annuus | Perennial | 12 | Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed. |
| Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Perennial | 11 | Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos. |
| Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima | Perennial | 9 | Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter. |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Shrub | 7 | Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load. |
| Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | 6 | Blue fruit on red stems in early fall. |
| American elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | 5 | Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species. |
| Black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 5 | Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees. |
Your list covers 4 plant layers (shrub, perennial, vine, tree). Layering matters: mixing shrub, perennial, vine, tree gives black-headed grosbeaks food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.
Offer the food it actually eats
Insects, seeds and fruit.
- Warm months
- Beetles and caterpillars
- Cold months
- Winters in Mexico
- At feeders
- Sunflower
Feeder style matters as much as food: platform / tray feeder is the first choice for this bird. One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West. Feeder guide →
Give it a place to nest
Natural site: Loose twig cup in dense trees.
It does not use nest boxes, so the way to host a nest is cover: keep dense native shrubs, vines or trees of the kind listed above, and avoid pruning them during the nesting season.
- Clutch
- 2–5 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Nestling period
- 11–12 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around April in Arizona but not until June in Wyoming. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.
Water, safety and patience
- A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
- Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
- Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
- Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; a summer breeder won't appear until it returns in spring.
Frequently asked
What attracts black-headed grosbeaks to a yard?
Food they actually eat (sunflower), native plants such as Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, clean water and suitable nesting cover: loose twig cup in dense trees.
What plants attract black-headed grosbeaks?
Across the Black-headed Grosbeak's range, the native plants most often tied to it are Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Choose the ones native to your state.
When should I set up my yard for nesting black-headed grosbeaks?
Nesting starts around April in Arizona and as late as June in Wyoming. Have cover, water ready a month before.
Sources
- Black-headed Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-headed Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-headed Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.