Evening Grosbeaks in North Dakota
When evening grosbeaks are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect evening grosbeaks in North Dakota
In North Dakota, evening grosbeaks are winter visitors rather than breeders. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic. While here they rely on maple, box elder and ash seeds.
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Native North Dakota plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, 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.
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.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the North Dakota 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 North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in North Dakota year-round?
No. Evening Grosbeaks are winter visitors in North Dakota and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract evening grosbeaks in North Dakota?
Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- 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.