Scientific Name:   Coccothraustes vespertinus

Length:   6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)

Weight:   1.9-2.6 oz (53-74 g)

Wingspan:   11.8-14.2 in (30-36 cm)

Nest:   These birds forage in trees and bushes, sometimes on the ground. They mainly eat seeds, berries, and insects. Outside of the nesting season they often feed in flocks. Sometimes, they will swallow fine gravel. The nest is on horizontal branch or in vertical fork of tree. Height varies, usually 20-60' above ground, can be 10-100' up. It is a rather loosely made cup of twigs, lined with fine grass, moss, rootlets, pine needles.

Eggs:   3-4, sometimes 2-5. Pale blue to blue-green, blotched with brown, gray, purple. Incubation is by female only, about 11-14 days. Male may feed female during incubation.

Feeding Behavior:   Looks for food mostly in trees and shrubs, sometimes on ground. Except when nesting, usually forages in flocks. They eat seeds, some berries and insects. Seeds make up majority of diet, especially seeds of box elder, ash, maple, locust, and other trees. Also feeds on buds of trees, berries, small fruits, weed seeds. At bird feeders, very fond of sunflower seeds.

Young:   Both parents feed the nestlings. Young leave the nest about 2 weeks after hatching. 1 or 2 broods per year.

Range:   The breeding habitat is coniferous and mixed forest across Canada and the western mountainous areas of the United States and Mexico. It is an extremely rare vagrant to the British Isles, with just two records so far. The migration of this bird is variable; in some winters, it may wander as far south as the southern U.S.

Brief Description:   The adult has a short black tail, black wings and a large pale bill. The adult male has a bright yellow forehead and body; its head is brown and there is a large white patch in the wing. The adult female is mainly olive-brown, greyer on the underparts and with white patches in the wings. They also have a loud distinctive 'chew' call, similar to a glorified house sparrow.