Rose-breasted grosbeak

Female rose-breasted grosbeak perched on a dark rail with a heavy pale bill and streaked buff breast, Manitoba

The rose-breasted grosbeak is a stocky songbird with a heavy, pale, conical bill built for cracking seeds. The male is striking, with a black head and back, a white belly, and a bright rose-red patch on the breast. The female, shown here, is streaked brown and buff with a bold white eyebrow, and the young birds look much like her.

Rose-breasted grosbeaks arrive in Manitoba in May and breed in deciduous woods, thickets, and wooded edges. Both parents share nest duties, and the male sometimes sings from the nest while incubating. They eat insects, seeds, and buds, and they visit feeders for sunflower seeds. They spend the winter in Central America and northern South America.

The bright rose triangle on the chest of a male rose-breasted grosbeak looks like a bold splash of paint.

To learn more about the rose-breasted grosbeak and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Rose-breasted grosbeak Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the rose-breasted grosbeak in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the rose-breasted grosbeak nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the rose-breasted grosbeak in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Shield, the Boreal Plains, and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

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