Evening Grosbeaks in Minnesota
When evening grosbeaks are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Minnesota
Evening Grosbeaks live in Minnesota all year. Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras. 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, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, 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.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Minnesota plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover evening grosbeaks use:
Nectar and seed.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
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 evening grosbeaks through the Minnesota 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 Minnesota's winter: Temperatures below 0°F are routine — heated water, suet and roost boxes are survival aids, not extras.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Minnesota year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Minnesota.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Wild bergamot, Eastern red cedar, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
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 — Minnesota
- 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.