Evening Grosbeaks in Maine
When evening grosbeaks are present in Maine, when they nest, which native Maine plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6b yard.
- Status in Maine
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6b
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Maine
Evening Grosbeaks live in Maine all year. Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward maple, box elder and ash seeds.
Humid continental with a long, rocky Atlantic coast and extensive northern spruce-fir forest.
Nesting in Maine
Across Maine, evening grosbeaks typically nest from July. Nest site: loose cup high in conifers. Females lay 2–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 13–14 days.
Cool, short summers; many songbirds do not begin nesting until late May.
- Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Maine plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Maine, these 8 provide food or cover evening grosbeaks use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
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.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Maine year
Flocks can empty a feeder in a morning during irruption years; populations have declined sharply since the 1980s.
- Best foods: Black-oil sunflower.
- In Maine's winter: Long, snowy winters; boreal finches and Pine Grosbeaks irrupt south in poor cone years.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Maine year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Maine.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Maine?
Nesting in Maine typically runs July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract evening grosbeaks in Maine?
Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Eastern hemlock are native plants in Maine that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Maine
Sources
- Evening Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Evening Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Evening Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Maine
- 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.