Evening Grosbeaks in Manitoba
When evening grosbeaks are present in Manitoba, when they nest, which native Manitoba plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.
- Status in Manitoba
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Manitoba
Evening Grosbeaks live in Manitoba all year. Very cold winters to −30°F. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward maple, box elder and ash seeds.
Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.
Nesting in Manitoba
Across Manitoba, 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.
Warm summers with a short, intense nesting season.
- Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern white pine, paper birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Manitoba plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Manitoba, these 8 provide food or cover evening grosbeaks use:
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.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Manitoba 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 Manitoba's winter: Very cold winters to −30°F.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Manitoba year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Manitoba.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Manitoba?
Nesting in Manitoba 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 Manitoba?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Paper birch are native plants in Manitoba that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Manitoba
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 — Manitoba
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.