Evening Grosbeaks in Montana
When evening grosbeaks are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Montana
Evening Grosbeaks live in Montana all year. Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws. 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 — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, 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, dry summers and a short growing season.
- Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Montana plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, 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.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Montana 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 Montana's winter: Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Montana year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Montana.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana 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 Montana?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Montana that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.