Yellow Grosbeak

The Yellow Grosbeak, or Pheucticus chrysopeplus, also known as the Mexican Yellow Grosbeak, is a striking medium-sized bird that belongs to the family Cardinalidae. This vibrant species is closely related to the Northern Cardinal and shares its family with other New World buntings and grosbeaks.

Identification Tips

Adult males are resplendent with their solid yellow plumage, ranging from light lemon to a brilliant golden-orange in certain populations. They boast a massive head and a proportionally large gray-black bill. The back is adorned with black and yellow mottling, while the rump is purely yellow. The upper tail coverts are black with white tips, and the wings and tail are black with prominent white spots, patches, and wingbars. Females and immatures are more olive on the upperparts, with dark streaks on the crown and back. The black is replaced by gray, and the white markings on the wings are less pronounced.

Habitat

The Yellow Grosbeak is found in forests, woodlands, and edges, preferring areas with trees but generally avoiding dense rain or cloud forests.

Distribution

This species is native to the Pacific slope of Mexico, ranging from central Sonora to northwestern Oaxaca, and extending into southern Chiapas and Guatemala. In Sonora, it exhibits migratory behavior. Vagrants have occasionally been spotted in the United States, particularly in Arizona during the summer, with reports also coming from California, Colorado, New Mexico, and even Iowa.

Behaviour

The Yellow Grosbeak is known for its variable and rich-toned warbling song, which is reminiscent of the Black-headed Grosbeak's melody but tends to be shorter. Calls include a metallic 'iehk' or 'plihk', and a soft 'whoi' or 'hu-oi' often emitted in flight.

Song & Calls

The typical calls of the Yellow Grosbeak are a metallic 'iehk' or 'plihk', and a soft 'whoi' or 'hu-oi', which are often given in flight. Its song is a variable, rich-toned warble similar to that of the Black-headed Grosbeak, albeit shorter.

Breeding

The Yellow Grosbeak lays two to five pale bluish to greenish eggs speckled with heavy brown and gray. The cup nest is constructed at a medium height in a bush or small tree.

Similar Species

Females can be confused with female Flame-colored Tanagers, but the Yellow Grosbeak is much larger, particularly noticeable in the bill size.

Diet and Feeding

As a seed-eating bird, the Yellow Grosbeak likely feeds on a variety of seeds and possibly insects, as is typical for the genus.

Conservation status

The Yellow Grosbeak is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline.