Black-headed Grosbeaks in California
When black-headed grosbeaks are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect black-headed grosbeaks in California
Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer residents in California, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles and caterpillars.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, 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.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Black-headed Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry, red-osier dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native California plants that attract black-headed grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover black-headed grosbeaks use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Feeding black-headed grosbeaks through the California year
One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West.
- Best foods: Sunflower.
- In California'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 California year-round?
No. Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer breeders in California and leave for the winter.
When do black-headed grosbeaks nest in California?
Nesting in California 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 California?
Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood are native plants in California that provide food or cover for black-headed grosbeaks.
Black-headed Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
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 — California
- 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.