Nebraska · Summer breeder

Black-headed Grosbeaks in Nebraska

When black-headed grosbeaks are present in Nebraska, when they nest, which native Nebraska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–5b yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus

Status in Nebraska: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4b–5b

When to expect black-headed grosbeaks in Nebraska

Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer residents in Nebraska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles and caterpillars.

Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.

Nesting in Nebraska

Across Nebraska, 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.

Hot summers with thunderstorms.

Black-headed Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Nebraska plants that attract black-headed grosbeaks

Of the regional native plants we track for Nebraska, these 8 provide food or cover black-headed grosbeaks use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

White oak

Quercus alba · Tree

Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Feeding black-headed grosbeaks through the Nebraska year

One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West.

Best foods: Sunflower.
In Nebraska'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 Nebraska year-round?

No. Black-headed Grosbeaks are summer breeders in Nebraska and leave for the winter.

When do black-headed grosbeaks nest in Nebraska?

Nesting in Nebraska 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 Nebraska?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in Nebraska that provide food or cover for black-headed grosbeaks.

Black-headed Grosbeaks in other regions

Arizona British Columbia California Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico North Dakota Oregon South Dakota Utah Washington Wyoming

Other backyard birds in Nebraska

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Eastern Screech-Owl Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Black-billed Magpie Pygmy Nuthatch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.