Finches (Fringillidae)

Pine Grosbeak

Pinicola enucleator. Buds, seeds and fruit; grit and salt in winter.

Finches (Fringillidae)Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleator
Scientific name
Pinicola enucleator
Length
7.9–9.8 in
Weight
1.8–2.8 oz
Nest
Loose twig cup low in a spruce or fir
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–5 eggs
Incubation
13–14 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Large, tame finch with a stubby black bill
  • Male rose-red with grey flanks
  • Female grey with olive-yellow head and rump

Voice

Mellow, fluty whistles; a clear 'tee-tee-tew' call.

Diet and feeding

Buds, seeds and fruit; grit and salt in winter.

What do pine grosbeaks eat? · Best feeder for pine grosbeaks

Pine Grosbeaks by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlaskaYear-round residentJune–July
AlbertaYear-round residentJune–July
British ColumbiaYear-round residentJune–July
CaliforniaWinter visitor—
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutWinter visitor—
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisWinter visitor—
IndianaWinter visitor—
IowaWinter visitor—
MaineWinter visitor—
ManitobaYear-round residentJune–July
MassachusettsWinter visitor—
MichiganWinter visitor—
MinnesotaWinter visitor—
MissouriWinter visitor—
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NevadaWinter visitor—
New BrunswickYear-round residentJune–July
New HampshireWinter visitor—
New JerseyWinter visitor—
New YorkWinter visitor—
Newfoundland and LabradorYear-round residentJune–July
Northwest TerritoriesYear-round residentJune–July
Nova ScotiaYear-round residentJune–July
NunavutYear-round residentJune–July
OhioWinter visitor—
OntarioYear-round residentJune–July
OregonWinter visitor—
PennsylvaniaWinter visitor—
Prince Edward IslandYear-round residentJune–July
QuebecYear-round residentJune–July
Rhode IslandWinter visitor—
SaskatchewanYear-round residentJune–July
UtahSummer breederMay–July
VermontWinter visitor—
WashingtonWinter visitor—
WisconsinWinter visitor—
WyomingSummer breederJune–July
YukonYear-round residentJune–July

Frequently asked

What do pine grosbeaks eat?

Buds, seeds and fruit; grit and salt in winter. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, hulled sunflower.

How big is a Pine Grosbeak?

7.9–9.8 in long and 1.8–2.8 oz.

Do pine grosbeaks use birdhouses?

No. Loose twig cup low in a spruce or fir.

Sources

  1. Pine Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Pine Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Pine Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

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.