Blue Grosbeak
Guiraca caerulea
DescriptionThe Blue Grosbeak derives its name from its color and large beak. The bird primarily feeds on insects and seeds gleaned from the ground, but occasionally consumes some fruit.
General: 6 to 7.5 inches in length.
Adult Male: Dark blue plumage. Black stripes on back. Blackish wings with two large chestnut-brown wing bars. Black around base of large, short, conical bill. Blackish tail.
Adult Female: Buff-brown plumage with underside being paler and marked with faint, dark streaks. Blackish wings with two buff wing bars. Blackish tail. Large, short, dark conical bill.
Immature: Similar to adult female.
Brushy pastures and thickets.
Nesting3-4 pale blue eggs. The eggs have a 11-12 day incubation period. Fledging occurs in 9-10 days. The nest is a loose cup made from grass, weed stems, and leaves concealed in a clump of weeds. Their nests are commonly parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird.
View Gallery