Evening Grosbeaks in Quebec
When evening grosbeaks are present in Quebec, when they nest, which native Quebec plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–5b yard.
- Status in Quebec
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–5b
When to expect evening grosbeaks in Quebec
Evening Grosbeaks live in Quebec all year. Long, cold, snowy 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.
Humid continental in the St. Lawrence valley, boreal forest to the north, tundra in Nunavik.
Nesting in Quebec
Across Quebec, 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, humid summers in the south.
- Evening Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Quebec plants that attract evening grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Quebec, 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.
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.
Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.
Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Quebec 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 Quebec's winter: Long, cold, snowy winters.
Full diet breakdown for evening grosbeaks · Best feeder for evening grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are evening grosbeaks in Quebec year-round?
Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Quebec.
When do evening grosbeaks nest in Quebec?
Nesting in Quebec 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 Quebec?
Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Eastern hemlock are native plants in Quebec that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.
Evening Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Quebec
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 — Quebec
- 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.