Pine Grosbeak Identification

Adult male

Large and plump, heavy-chested finch with a round head. Its conical finchlike bill is thick and stubby. Adult males are rosy red and gray with 2 white wingbars on dark gray wings.

Female

Adult male

A large, plump, heavy-chested finch with a short, stubby bill. Male is reddish-pink and gray, with two white wingbars on dark wings.

Immature male

Immature males are grayish with tints of reddish orange or yellow on the head, chest, and rump.

Adult male

Female/immature

Female/immature is grayish with tints of reddish orange or yellow on the head and rump. Note also dark gray wings with two white wingbars.

Female

Plump, heavy-chested finch with a thick, stubby bill. Adult females have golden yellow heads and chests with a gray lower belly and dark gray wings with 2 white wingbars.

Immature male

Plumage coloration varies regionally, but not consistently. Immature males on the coast tend to be darker red on the head and chest.

Adult male

Plumage varies regionally, but not always consistently. Some adult males in the interior have more grayish mottling on their backs with grayer flanks.

Female

The amount of yellow on the head, chest, and rump on females is variable. This female has limited yellow on the head and no yellow on the chest. Note stocky size and thick stubby bill.

Adult male

Habitat

Breeds in open spruce, fir, and pine forests as well as subalpine forests. In winter, tends to use mountain ash, maple, and ash forests with abundant seeds.