Black-Headed Grosbeak vs Red-Winged Blackbird

Black-Headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

How to recognise a black-headed grosbeak?

General appearance

The black-headed grosbeak is a roughly robin-sized bird, measuring around 7 1/2 inches (19 cm). It displays characteristic colors such as black, brown, orange, tan, and white. Its wings are rounded, while its tail can be shaped, notched, squared, or rounded. The bird's notable features include markedly vibrant coloration and size.

Male vs female

For the black-headed grosbeak, the males tend to be dull orange-brown in color with a black head and black-and-white wings. On the other hand, females feature colors and patterns similar to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak but have more pronounced orange undertones beneath and less streaking. In addition, the females often have a darker bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile black-headed grosbeaks resemble the female but are tinged orange below, showing less streaking than their adult counterparts. They also have a bill that is often darker than the adults. Juveniles may experience a change in coloration during the season's transition.

Size

7.1 - 7.5 in/1.4 - 1.8 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Black-headed Grosbeak primarily breeds in oak woodland, streamside cottonwood and willow groves, pine-oak woods, and pinyon-juniper woodland. It seldom occupies purely coniferous forests.

Additional range

During migration, it can be found in open woods, streamside trees, suburbs, mesquite groves, desert washes. It winters in the open woods and brush of the tropics, ranging from lowlands to mountains.

Range Map

What do black-headed grosbeaks like to eat?

Natural diet

The black-headed grosbeak primarily feeds on a variety of insects, seeds, and berries. During the summer, it consumes numerous insects such as beetles, caterpillars, wasps, bees, and flies, as well as spiders and snails. The bird eats seeds from various weeds and berries from many plant sources, including mistletoe and poison oak, along with some cultivated fruits. Young grosbeaks are largely fed insects initially to support their growth.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the black-headed grosbeak may be attracted to a range of offerings, including sunflower seeds and suet. These high-energy food sources provide suitable nutrition for the bird outside of its natural diet.

What does a black-headed grosbeak sound like?

The black-headed grosbeak produces vocalizations reminiscent of a robin but are faster, softer, and sweeter. These vocals include a richly warble song and a distinct call note, characterized by an emphatic, slightly metallic 'tick.' The bird's call patterns fall, rise, or undulate, giving its vocals a unique sound. The grosbeak typically produces sounds like chirps, chips, flutes, rattles, and whistles.

Call

Audio by Peter Wilton

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

How to recognise a red-winged blackbird?

General appearance

The Red-winged Blackbird's general size ranges between 7 to 9 1/2 inches (18-24 cm). Its wings are broad and rounded with a rounded, square-tipped tail. With coloration varying from black, brown, orange, red to yellow, these birds are about the size of a Robin.

Male vs female

Male Red-winged blackbirds are noticeable with shoulder patches that may be either evident, particularly in song display, or mostly concealed by body feathers. These patches are typically bordered yellow, but in central California, these can be entirely red. Females, on the other hand, present very differently. They display streaky brown coloration with a buff eyebrow.

Juvenile

Younger red-winged blackbirds, like the females, appear streaky brown. They resemble sparrows but possess different behavior aids, darker lower belly, and a spikier bill distinguishing them from the common sparrows. With age and seasonal variations, their coloration and physical traits progress and develop into that of respective adult males and females.

Size

6.3 - 9.8 in/1.1 - 2.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

Red-winged blackbirds primarily inhabit marshes, particularly freshwater marshes, brushy swamps, rank weedy fields, and hayfields.

Additional range

In addition to primary habitats, they also venture into cultivated land and the outskirts of water bodies. They can sometimes be found in unexpected environments like farm fields, pastures, feedlots, and mudflats, especially outside of the breeding season.

Range Map

What do red-winged blackbirds like to eat?

Natural diet

The red-winged blackbird primarily feeds on insects and seeds. In the summer, its diet consists mainly of various insects such as beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, as well as spiders, millipedes, and snails. Approximately three-fourths of the adult's annual diet is composed of seeds, which includes those from grasses, weeds, and waste grain. The bird also occasionally consumes berries and small fruits.

Bird feeders

Red-winged blackbirds commonly visit bird feeders where they are attracted to seeds and grains. They often feed on sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and millet. These birds readily adapt to available feed in backyard settings, making them frequent guests at feeders.

What does a red-winged blackbird sound like?

The red-winged blackbird exhibits an eclectic range of vocalizations. Its signature song is a rich, musical "o-ka-leeee" often used to declare its territory. Its calls vary, featuring a rising pattern and including different types like chatter, chirp or chip, scream, trill, and whistle. These diverse sounds contribute to its unique sound repertoire, abandoning subtlety for striking, tuneful melodies.

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Call

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

There's more to learn about Red-Winged Blackbird

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Black-Headed Grosbeak

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Red-Winged Blackbird

Black-Headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

General appearance

The black-headed grosbeak is a roughly robin-sized bird, measuring around 7 1/2 inches (19 cm). It displays characteristic colors such as black, brown, orange, tan, and white. Its wings are rounded, while its tail can be shaped, notched, squared, or rounded. The bird's notable features include markedly vibrant coloration and size.

Male vs female

For the black-headed grosbeak, the males tend to be dull orange-brown in color with a black head and black-and-white wings. On the other hand, females feature colors and patterns similar to the Rose-breasted Grosbeak but have more pronounced orange undertones beneath and less streaking. In addition, the females often have a darker bill.

Juvenile

Juvenile black-headed grosbeaks resemble the female but are tinged orange below, showing less streaking than their adult counterparts. They also have a bill that is often darker than the adults. Juveniles may experience a change in coloration during the season's transition.

Size

7.1 - 7.5 in/1.4 - 1.8 oz

There's more to learn about Black-Headed Grosbeak

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Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

General appearance

The Red-winged Blackbird's general size ranges between 7 to 9 1/2 inches (18-24 cm). Its wings are broad and rounded with a rounded, square-tipped tail. With coloration varying from black, brown, orange, red to yellow, these birds are about the size of a Robin.

Male vs female

Male Red-winged blackbirds are noticeable with shoulder patches that may be either evident, particularly in song display, or mostly concealed by body feathers. These patches are typically bordered yellow, but in central California, these can be entirely red. Females, on the other hand, present very differently. They display streaky brown coloration with a buff eyebrow.

Juvenile

Younger red-winged blackbirds, like the females, appear streaky brown. They resemble sparrows but possess different behavior aids, darker lower belly, and a spikier bill distinguishing them from the common sparrows. With age and seasonal variations, their coloration and physical traits progress and develop into that of respective adult males and females.

Size

6.3 - 9.8 in/1.1 - 2.6 oz

There's more to learn about Red-Winged Blackbird

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How to tell the Black-Headed Grosbeak from the Red-Winged Blackbird

Visual differences

The Black-Headed Grosbeak is roughly robin-sized, measuring about 7.5 inches with a vibrant coloration of black, brown, orange, and white. The males display a distinctive black head. The Red-Winged Blackbird ranges from 7 to 9.5 inches, featuring predominantly black plumage with males having red and yellow shoulder patches. Female blackbirds are streaky brown with a buff eyebrow. Grosbeaks have a distinct robust beak, while blackbirds have a slimmer one. The grosbeak showcases more orange tones, contrasting with the blackbird's red wing accents.

Key differences and behavior

Black-Headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) and Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) display notable behavioral differences. Grosbeaks, primarily found in woodland and brush habitats, exhibit cooperative parenting, with males involved in feeding and incubation. They sing for territorial defense and mate attraction. In contrast, Red-Winged Blackbirds inhabit marshes and fields, being highly territorial. Males display vibrant red shoulder patches and might attract multiple mates. Both species feed on insects, seeds, and berries, but Red-Winged Blackbirds predominantly consume seeds throughout the year. At feeders, both birds are drawn to sunflower seeds. While the Grosbeak focuses on woodland nests, the Blackbird's nests are in marshes or fields near water.