Black-headed Grosbeaks in Arizona
When black-headed grosbeaks are present in Arizona, when they nest, which native Arizona plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–10b yard.
- Status in Arizona
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–10b
When to expect black-headed grosbeaks in Arizona
Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer residents in Arizona, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles and caterpillars.
Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Arizona
Across Arizona, black-headed grosbeaks typically nest from April–July. Nest site: loose twig cup in dense trees. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 11–12 days.
Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.
- Black-headed Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Arizona plants that attract black-headed grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover black-headed grosbeaks use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Feeding black-headed grosbeaks through the Arizona year
One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West.
- Best foods: Sunflower.
- In Arizona's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for black-headed grosbeaks · Best feeder for black-headed grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are black-headed grosbeaks in Arizona year-round?
No. Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer breeders in Arizona and leave for the winter.
When do black-headed grosbeaks nest in Arizona?
Nesting in Arizona typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract black-headed grosbeaks in Arizona?
Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Virginia creeper, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem are native plants in Arizona that provide food or cover for black-headed grosbeaks.
Black-headed Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Arizona
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Arizona
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.