Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The take

For two weeks each spring and fall, feeders get lucky — the rose chevron is unmistakable.

How to ID it

• Male is black and white with a brilliant rose-red chevron down the center of the breast.
• Stocky songbird with a very large, pale triangular bill; females are brown-streaked with a bold white eyebrow.
• Frequent feeder visitor cracking sunflower seeds; song is a sweet rambling robin-like warble with sharp 'chink' calls.

Field marks at a glance

Size

medium

Head

black (male), brown with white eyebrow stripe (female)

Call

sharp squeaky chink

Where & when

Passage migrant — spring and fall

Learn more

• allaboutbirds.org