Black-Headed Grosbeak

The Black-Headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is a medium-sized, seed-eating bird in the same family as the northern cardinal, the Cardinalidae. Deciduous and mixed forested habitats are where the black-headed grosbeak prefers to reside. Large trees and dense brush are preferred habitats for it, as well as conifer forests with pockets of broadleaved trees and shrubs, as well as streamside corridors, river bottoms, lakeshores, wetlands, and suburban areas.

A common starling and the black-headed grosbeak are about the same size. The male has a black head, black wings, and black tail with noticeable white patches, as indicated by its name. Its belly is yellow, and its breast ranges in color from dark to tawny orange. The female has sparrow-like black stripes on her brown head, neck, and back. Additionally, she has white streaks on her cheeks, over her eyes, and down the centre of her head. Her wings and tail are grayish-brown with two white wing bars and yellowish wing margins, while her breast is white.