Newfoundland and Labrador · Year-round resident

Evening Grosbeaks in Newfoundland and Labrador

When evening grosbeaks are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus
Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
Year-round resident
Nesting window
July
Broods
1–2 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 0a–6b

When to expect evening grosbeaks in Newfoundland and Labrador

Evening Grosbeaks live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward maple, box elder and ash seeds.

Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Across Newfoundland and Labrador, 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 summers; nesting often starts in June.

  • Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern white pine, paper birch, red maple for nest sites.
  • Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract evening grosbeaks

Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover evening grosbeaks use:

Eastern white pine
Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Red maple
Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Balsam fir
Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce
Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Black spruce
Picea mariana · Tree

Persistent cones in boreal bogs.

Tamarack
Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Willow (Bebb)
Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.

Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks

Frequently asked

Are evening grosbeaks in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?

Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.

When do evening grosbeaks nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador?

Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Red maple, Balsam fir, White spruce, Black spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.

Evening Grosbeaks in other regions

Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador

Sources

  1. Evening Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Evening Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Evening Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.