Last week, I saw seven Evening Grosbeaks at my feeders, which is the largest group I've seen at my upstate NY feeders in 16 years of feeding. In all those years, if I saw 3-4 birds, it was significant. Two more visited our feeders today.
Wanda, a Wild Birds Unlimited customer, recently sent us this photograph of Evening Grosbeaks at her feeding station. She counted 12 grosbeaks and has never seen this many of them at her feeder either.
Photo courtesy of Wanda Perkins
Late this summer, I saw a male evening feeding a young grosbeak - the first I'd witnessed of Evening Grosbeak breeding activities in the area.
And back in April, a male grosbeak visited the feeders, his huge bill a brilliant chartreuse indicative of breeding plumage. Read our "Evening Grosbeaks Return" post of April 27 that includes an audio clip of the grosbeak call.
Customers tell us stories of years past when they would have huge flocks of Evening Grosbeaks descend upon yards and feeders. Just imagine seeing and hearing hundreds of these large, vocal birds - what a spectacle that must have been!
Unfortunately, few people have experienced that. In the last few decades, Evening Grosbeaks are most often reported in groups numbering only in the single digits.
Yet there are predictions of a strong irruptive year of winter finches like the grosbeak. Just within the past couple weeks, we're hearing of more frequent sightings of the Evening Grosbeak and sightings of "higher numbers" (it is all relative) at feeders. Why is this so important? What is so significant about sightings of Evening Grosbeaks?
Earlier this year, Audubon issued a list of Common Birds In Decline based on years of citizen science projects such as the Christmas Bird Count and the Breeding Bird Survey. Their study revealed an alarming decline in many of our most common birds and the Evening Grosbeak was number 2 on that list, second only to the Northern Bobwhite.
Since 1967, in just 40 years, the population of the Evening Grosbeak has declined 78%, from 17 million to 3.8 million.
All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades. Read more about all the birds on the Common Birds in Decline list.
The study warns, "The one distinction these common species share is the potential to become uncommon unless we all take action to protect them and their habitat."
Each of us can take individual action that can help make a difference. Audubon suggests:
- Conserve energy at home
- Fight global warming and urge your lawmakers to pass laws to fight global warming
- Monitor feeders keeping them clean and healthy for all birds including the Evening Grosbeak
- Become a citizen scientist in such projects as Project FeederWatch, The Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird, or Audubon's Christmas Bird Count.
- Protect Local Habitat
- Support Sustainable Forests.
- Learn more about the Boreal Forest in the Northern U.S. and Canada. (The boreal is essential breeding territory for many species of birds, including Evening Grosbeaks.)
The next time you see Evening Grosbeaks in your yard, close your eyes and imagine them GONE. Not just flown away, but GONE and never to return. At the current rate of decline, that is not beyond the realm of possibility. Audubon's study is a call to action. A call to each of us to do what we can in our daily lives to protect these "common" birds so they do not become uncommon, or worse yet, rare, endangered, or extinct.
ADDENDUM: Since this post was written in the fall of 2007, we've heard from readers across the continent! Please tell us about your Evening Grosbeak sighting, and be sure to let us know where you are located.
Jan - that's great! Thanks for the report from Washington state. It seems more of the recent reports (2010-11) have been from the northwest including Canada. But there's talk of at least a chance of some irruption this winter (2011-12) here in the northeast. I hope so! Thanks again for your report.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | October 18, 2011 at 12:10 PM
We just had an entire flock of Evening Grosbeaks in our yard. This is the first time I've seen more that two at any given time. So exciting!
Oops, forgot to mention my location. I'm in Woodinville, WA
Posted by: Jan | October 16, 2011 at 12:58 PM
NG - thanks for the update from British Columbia. You're lucky - I haven't seen an Evening Grosbeak for a couple months :(
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | September 05, 2011 at 12:59 PM
The wife saw two Grosbeaks at the bird bath last week, they just stopped by for a quick dip and then flew off. Pretty late this year, I think they came by around May last year.
Posted by: NG | September 05, 2011 at 10:13 AM
NG, on Facebook, I've been hearing of good numbers of Evening Grosbeaks in the upper midwest, namely Minnesota. Sharing the wealth - thanks for the report!
Here's a link to the Wild Birds Unlimited online store:
http://shop.wbu.com/index/567.0?os=354
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 09, 2011 at 08:51 AM
The Grosbeaks didnt show up this year at all. Crows, Blue Jays, and Black Bears seemed to enjoy the bird seed though. Although I must say, Bears and plastic bird feeders dont really get along. Off to Walmart for new ones I guess.
Posted by: NG | August 08, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Susan - congrats and thanks for the report of your Evening Grosbeak in northern Michigan! Is he sticking around?
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | July 11, 2011 at 01:27 PM
Just saw a male evening grosbeak at my feeder yesterday. I am in Roscommon, Mi in the upper half of the lower peninsula. It was beautiful!
Posted by: susan | July 10, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Edwin - welcome from Montana! Evening Grosbeaks are known for consuming large quantities of seed, especially when they appear in large numbers. Congrats on your new yard birds and thank you for your report!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 14, 2011 at 12:45 PM
I live in Kalispell Montana and had a pair of evening Grosebeaks show up at my feeder. I also did not know what type of bird this was until I came upon your site. these birds are feeding out of a tube feeder and are very aggresive with the other birds.They are eating up my sunflower seeds.
Posted by: Edwin Hawkins | June 14, 2011 at 10:26 AM
A pair, were in our garden this morning 11/06/2011 We didn't know what they were until I found your web page. Such beautiful birds. We are in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
Posted by: Urbania Bruckner | June 11, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Nina - glad you found this info on Evening Grosbeaks! Enjoy them at your feeders and keep us posted from outside Seattle WA! thanks for your visit.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 08, 2011 at 11:41 AM
When my Sibley Field Guide to Western States was coming up blank on Grosbeak variations (I live outside Seattle, WA), I turned to the internet and found this site. Yup, 8+ Evening Grosbeaks hogging the bird feeder, squaking at each other, and even trying to take over the thistle feeder from the goldfinches. Ate seed alongside the house finches. This was my first sighting in 3.5 years here.
Posted by: Nina V. | June 07, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Lori, congrats on 24 Evening Grosbeaks. These high numbers are making me jealous! Thanks for the report from Washington state!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 03, 2011 at 10:08 PM
I just saw this magnificent bird for the first time. I've counted 24 so far!! What a treat. I love your website. Lori from Gold Bar, Washington
Posted by: Lori Gilbert | June 02, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Bonnie - another report from northern California. That's a lot of grosbeaks you have there!
And congrats on noticing "something different" from your other grosbeaks. That's how we discover new, great things! Keep us posted, ok?
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 01, 2011 at 07:35 PM
NG - snow...hummingbirds?? Thanks for the note and let us know when you get your grosbeaks again.
Deb - thanks for the grosbeak report from northern California. So exciting to see a new bird at the feeders, isn't it?
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | June 01, 2011 at 07:33 PM
We live in the town of Magalia which is in the northern California foothills. (about 30 miles NW of Oroville.
We had only seen robins and blue jays and a small finch of some kind. Since putting feeders out, we started getting grossbeaks and then noticed some of them had different markings. We learned they were evening grossbeaks. They are beutiful!
Someone said they will only feed on flat feeders. Not true. We have tube feeders and they have no problem feeding from them.
Posted by: Deb Gregory | June 01, 2011 at 12:21 AM
I'll let you know as soon as I see one up here in Hope. Its still very cold and we are still getting snow up on the mountains that we are nestled in. The Hummingbirds are providing entertainment for us now. The weather is supposed to get warmer starting this Saturday, so lets hope we see the Grosbeaks soon.
Posted by: NG | May 31, 2011 at 09:56 PM
Hi, I'm Bonnie out of Oroville in Northern California, about an hour above Sacramento. I've been feeding the birds for only six years. Three years ago I saw my first Grosbeaks. They were Black- Headed. About a dozen would show up in the spring for a few weeks and again in the fall for a few days. When I woke up four days ago, I looked out my window and saw my usual Grosbeaks and a couple that looked strange. I knew they were Grosbeaks but they just looked funny. Once I woke up a bit and a male showed up I was able to look them up. I had never heard of Evening Grosbeaks before. Now as I look out, I can see four males and twenty-two females. They have taken over my feeders on the front deck and have forced everyone else except the lesser goldfinches, and the occasional Western Scrub Jay, to the backyard. What an amazing sight to see.
Posted by: Bonnie Nicholson | May 30, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Debbie - isn't it rewarding to notice something new at your feeders? Thanks for the report from the Canadian Maritimes. I'd love to get out there sometime!
Carol - lucky you to have them returning regularly. Thanks for the report from the other side of the continent!!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 27, 2011 at 08:43 PM
we got at least a dozen back again this year. they just showed up a weekago, we live in kelowna, b.c. Canada. i've never seen them before a couple of years ago and now they're coming back every spring.
Posted by: Carol | May 27, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Hi, my name is Debbie & I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This morning while having my cup of tea, I notice a different bird @ my feeders, so I got my camera & took some pictures. Then I got out my Bird book to see which kind it was...It is a "Evening Grosbeak" what a beautiful bird. I even managed to get out on our Veranda & snap a picture or two as well. Hope he returns soons with the rest of the family...lol
Posted by: Debbie Laverty | May 26, 2011 at 09:53 AM
Barbara (AZ) and Peddidle (ID) - thanks for sharing your Evening Grosbeak sighting! At this time of year, check out the male's beak - it should be a chartreuse color. It looks pretty cool.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 25, 2011 at 07:11 PM
Kimberly - Idaho
Saw a single female Evening Grosbeak a couple of days ago. Just finished watching one male and three female Evening Grosbeaks at the feeders a few minutes ago.
Posted by: peddidle | May 25, 2011 at 05:23 PM