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Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak male

General Description: Black-headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) are large, sexually dimorphic songbirds with very large bills. Males are black and orange with white in the wings and tail. The head, wings, back, and tail are mostly black, and most of the body is orange. The belly is yellow and white, there is some yellow on the shoulder, and the wings and tail have white. Females are a dull version of the male, but with a bold white eyeline and black streaks on the sides.

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Cardinalidae.

Favored Habitat: Mountain forests and places with mulberry fruit.

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak female

Where to Find: During migration, Black-headed Grosbeaks show up anywhere they can find food (fruit); look for them at Corn Creek where they gorge on mulberries. During summer, look for them in the conifer forests on Mt. Charleston and other high-elevation places around Las Vegas.

Comments: Summer visitors only.

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) If you were a big seed or a tasty bug in the mountains, this could be the last face you'd ever see!
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak male
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak male
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak female
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Female Black-headed Grosbeak; notice the fine streaking on the belly
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak female: note raised crest
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Female Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Juvenile male; note lack of streaks on chest and short tail
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak juvenile male; note lack of streaks on chest
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak female
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Black-headed Grosbeak and Varied Thrush at Hidden Forest
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240125
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