Black-headed Grosbeak in August
Where black-headed grosbeaks are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Black-headed Grosbeak's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Black-headed Grosbeak specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 15 states and provinces where black-headed grosbeaks occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where black-headed grosbeaks are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- summer breeder
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, black-headed grosbeaks are absent in the South, summer breeder across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Black-headed grosbeaks are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, black-headed grosbeaks put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Beetles and caterpillars
One of few birds that eats monarch butterflies; a summer feeder regular in the West.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Black-headed Grosbeak diet guide → · Best feeder for black-headed grosbeaks →
Watching black-headed grosbeaks this month
Black-headed grosbeaks are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region black-headed grosbeaks are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Black-headed Grosbeak month by month
Black-headed Grosbeak by state
Frequently asked
Where are black-headed grosbeaks in August?
In August, black-headed grosbeaks are absent in the South, summer breeder across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do black-headed grosbeaks nest in August?
No — black-headed grosbeaks typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do black-headed grosbeaks eat in August?
Beetles and caterpillars.
Sources
- Black-headed Grosbeak — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-headed Grosbeak life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-headed 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.