Vermont · Year-round resident

Evening Grosbeaks in Vermont

When evening grosbeaks are present in Vermont, when they nest, which native Vermont plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus

Status in Vermont: Year-round resident
Nesting window: July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–5b

When to expect evening grosbeaks in Vermont

Evening Grosbeaks live in Vermont all year. Long, 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, with the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley.

Nesting in Vermont

Across Vermont, 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.

Short, mild summers.

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 Vermont plants that attract evening grosbeaks

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

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Eastern hemlock

Tsuga canadensis · Tree

Small cones for siskins and chickadees; dense winter roosting.

Feeding evening grosbeaks through the Vermont 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 Vermont's winter: Long, snowy winters.

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

Frequently asked

Are evening grosbeaks in Vermont year-round?

Yes. Evening Grosbeaks are year-round residents in Vermont.

When do evening grosbeaks nest in Vermont?

Nesting in Vermont 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 Vermont?

Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine, Eastern hemlock are native plants in Vermont that provide food or cover for evening grosbeaks.

Sources

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.