Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Minnesota
When rose-breasted grosbeaks are present in Minnesota, when they nest, which native Minnesota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Minnesota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect rose-breasted grosbeaks in Minnesota
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are summer residents in Minnesota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and bees.
Continental, with very cold winters and warm summers; prairie in the west, boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in Minnesota
Across Minnesota, rose-breasted grosbeaks typically nest from June–July. Nest site: flimsy twig cup in deciduous trees 5–15 ft up. Females lay 1–5 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
A short, intense breeding season; most nesting runs May through July.
- Rose-breasted Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red-osier dogwood, serviceberry, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Minnesota plants that attract rose-breasted grosbeaks
Of the regional native plants we track for Minnesota, these 8 provide food or cover rose-breasted grosbeaks use:
White fruit and red-stemmed winter cover.
Early-summer fruit.
Acorns and bark insects.
Nectar and seed.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Feeding rose-breasted grosbeaks through the Minnesota year
A brief spring feeder visitor in the south; stays to nest in northern deciduous woods.
- Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Safflower.
- In Minnesota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for rose-breasted grosbeaks · Best feeder for rose-breasted grosbeaks
Frequently asked
Are rose-breasted grosbeaks in Minnesota year-round?
No. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are summer breeders in Minnesota and leave for the winter.
When do rose-breasted grosbeaks nest in Minnesota?
Nesting in Minnesota typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.
What native plants attract rose-breasted grosbeaks in Minnesota?
Red-osier dogwood, Serviceberry, Bur oak, Wild bergamot, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Minnesota that provide food or cover for rose-breasted grosbeaks.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in other regions
Other backyard birds in Minnesota
Sources
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Minnesota
- 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.