Black-headed Grosbeaks in Colorado
When black-headed grosbeaks are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect black-headed grosbeaks in Colorado
Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer residents in Colorado, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles and caterpillars.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, black-headed grosbeaks typically nest from May–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.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Black-headed Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Colorado plants that attract black-headed grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover black-headed grosbeaks use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding black-headed grosbeaks through the Colorado year
One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West.
- Best foods: Sunflower.
- In Colorado'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 Colorado year-round?
No. Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer breeders in Colorado and leave for the winter.
When do black-headed grosbeaks nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract black-headed grosbeaks in Colorado?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for black-headed grosbeaks.
Black-headed Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
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 — Colorado
- 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.