Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus L 8 ¼" (21cm)

Photo by Lang Elliott. Listen to a rose-breasted grosbeak.

The rose-breasted grosbeak is a songbird of the eastern deciduous woodlands. Spending much of its time in the treetops, the beautiful male rosebreast is often heard before it is seen. The rich melodic warbling song of the rose-breasted grosbeak is often described as sounding like a robin that's had singing lessons. When not singing, rosebreasts often utter a call that sounds like a squeaky eeek! In flight, male rosebreasts flash a pinwheel of black and white, and if you look carefully, you'll see that both sexes have salmon-pink in the "armpit" region under their wings.