Ohio · Summer breeder

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in Ohio

When rose-breasted grosbeaks are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Cardinals and allies (Cardinalidae)Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus

Status in Ohio: Summer breeder
Nesting window: May–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect rose-breasted grosbeaks in Ohio

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are summer residents in Ohio, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on beetles, caterpillars and bees.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Nesting in Ohio

Across Ohio, rose-breasted grosbeaks typically nest from May–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.

Warm, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, spicebush, eastern red cedar for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native Ohio plants that attract rose-breasted grosbeaks

Of the regional native plants we track for Ohio, these 8 provide food or cover rose-breasted grosbeaks use:

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early fruit.

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin · Shrub

High-fat fall berries.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Winter cover and fruit.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Summer nectar and fall seed.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Seed heads.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Staghorn sumac

Rhus typhina · Shrub

Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.

Feeding rose-breasted grosbeaks through the Ohio year

A brief spring feeder visitor in the south; stays to nest in northern deciduous woods.

Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Safflower.
In Ohio'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 Ohio year-round?

No. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are summer breeders in Ohio and leave for the winter.

When do rose-breasted grosbeaks nest in Ohio?

Nesting in Ohio typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–5 eggs, incubated for 11–14 days.

What native plants attract rose-breasted grosbeaks in Ohio?

Serviceberry, Spicebush, Eastern red cedar, Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Flowering dogwood, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac are native plants in Ohio that provide food or cover for rose-breasted grosbeaks.

Other backyard birds in Ohio

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

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.