A practical guide to bird watching in Sonoma County, California
(Unless otherwise indicated, all phone numbers are in the 707 area code)
An uncommon and sporadic visitor to Sonoma County, most often in the early winter months. An irruptive species. Occasionally present in significant numbers, but entirely absent in most years. Often moves in small flocks when not breeding, concentrating on a single food source until exhausted. May visit feeders. A flock persisted for several weeks feeding on the Chinese Pistache trees around a north Santa Rosa business park (around Apollo Way) in December 2010. When not found in urban and suburban settings, usually prefers coniferous woods. Eats seeds, berries, tree buds, and--during breeding season--insects. According to The Birder's Handbook, competes with the introduced House Sparrow in the northeastern US, contributing to a decline in the House Sparrow there.
Male is recognized by its chunky shape; very large, heavy finch's bill; brown head and breast shading into yellow at the belly and rump and under the tail; black wings with a large white patch conspicuous with wings folded and in flight; short, dark tail; and yellow forehead and "eyebrow." Female is a dull yellowish grey-brown overall, but shares the chunky silhouette, heavy bill, the black wings with white patch, and has hints of yellow as well. Evening Grosbeak often gives the impression of an overgrown Goldfinch. Undulating flight also suggestive of Goldfinch. Loud voice that carries.
Further reading:
Bolander and Parmeter, Birds of Sonoma County California, rev. ed., 2000, p. 126
Brinkley, National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America, 2007, p. 448
Dunn and Alderfer, eds., National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 5th ed., 2006, p. 462
Dunn and Alderfer, eds., National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th ed., 2011, p. 524
Dunne, Pete Dunne’s Essential Field Guide Companion, 2006, pp. 678-679
Ehrlich, Dobkin, and Wheye, The Birder's Handbook, paperback edition, 1988, p. 646
Fix and Bezener, Birds of Northern California, 2000, p. 365
Floyd, Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 2008, p. 478
Kaufman, Field Guide to Birds of North America, 2000, p. 372
Kaufman, Field Guide to Advanced Birding, 2011, pp. 132
Lukas, Bay Area Birds: From Sonoma County to Monterey Bay, 2012, no entry
Parmeter and Wight, Birds of Sonoma County California, Update (2000-2010), 2012, p. 74
Peterson, Birds of Eastern and Central North America, 5th ed., 2002, p. 290
Peterson, Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, 4th ed., 2010, p. 364
Peterson, Western Birds, 3rd ed., 1990, p. 344
Sibley, Field Guide to Birds of Western North America,1st ed., 2003, p. 449
Stokes, Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 1st ed., 2010, p. 759
Vuilleumier, American Museum of Natural History, Birds of North America: Western Region, 2011, p. 345
Voice: Cornell Lab of Ornithology: All About Birds--Evening Grosbeak
© Colin Talcroft, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Unless noted, all photos by the author. If you would like to use one of my images, please ask for permission for non-commercial use with proper credit or commercial use with proper compensation.
Female Evening Grosbeak, Apollo Way, Santa Rosa, December 6, 2010
Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Evening Grosbeak, Apollo Way, Santa Rosa, December 6, 2010
1990-2013 Sonoma County data. Graph provided by eBird (www.ebird.org), generated July 1, 2013
EBird reported occurrence in Sonoma County
