Pine Grosbeaks in Oregon
When pine grosbeaks are present in Oregon, when they nest, which native Oregon plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9b yard.
- Status in Oregon
- Winter visitor
- Nesting window
- Does not typically nest here
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9b
When to expect pine grosbeaks in Oregon
In Oregon, pine grosbeaks are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.
Native Oregon plants that attract pine grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Oregon, these 8 provide food or cover pine grosbeaks use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Early yellow flowers for hummingbirds, then summer fruit.
Saskatoon berries ripen in early summer.
Feeding pine grosbeaks through the Oregon year
- Top foods: Black-oil sunflower, Hulled sunflower.
- In Oregon's winter: Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Full diet breakdown for pine grosbeaks · Best feeder for pine grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are pine grosbeaks in Oregon year-round?
No. Pine Grosbeaks are winter visitors in Oregon and do not typically nest there.
What native plants attract pine grosbeaks in Oregon?
Smooth sumac, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Golden currant, Western serviceberry are native plants in Oregon that provide food or cover for pine grosbeaks.
Pine Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Oregon
Sources
- Pine Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pine Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Oregon
- 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.