Pine Grosbeak Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPine Grosbeak
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 two white wingbars on dark gray wings.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryLapland, April 09, 2011Female
A large, plump finch with a short, stubby bill. Females are mostly gray, with orange or yellow on the head and rump. Note the long tail and two white wingbars.
© County Lister Brendan / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, January 28, 2018Adult 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.
© Erkki Lehtovirta / Macaulay LibraryLapland, June 06, 2016Immature male
Immature males are grayish with tints of reddish orange or yellow on the head, chest, and rump.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryLapland, April 04, 2011Adult male
North America's largest finch. Adult males are distinguished from other reddish finches by combination of large size; stubby, slightly hooked bill; bold white wingbars; and long, forked tail.
© bellemare celine / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 23, 2018Female/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.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 07, 2023Female
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 two white wingbars.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryLapland, April 10, 2011Immature male
Plumage coloration varies regionally, but not consistently. Immature males on the coast tend to be darker red on the head and chest.
© John C Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryOregon, April 04, 2015Adult male
Plumage varies regionally, but not always consistently. Some adult males in the interior of North America have more grayish mottling on their backs with grayer flanks.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, June 15, 2014Female
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.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, February 16, 2011Adult male
In flight, size and shape are reminiscent of American Robin. Note Pine Grosbeak's undulating flight, with a series of slow wingbeats followed by a long glide.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 18, 2021Habitat
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.
© James McCall / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 04, 2017Similar SpeciesWhite-winged Crossbill
Adult male
White-winged Crossbills are smaller than Pine Grosbeaks with black wings and tail unlike Pine Grosbeak, which have gray wings and tail. They also have a crisscrossed bill that Pine Grosbeaks lack.
© Jeremiah Trimble / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 09, 2012Similar SpeciesWhite-winged Crossbill
Female
White-winged Crossbills are smaller than Pine Grosbeaks. Females have a streaked belly, whereas female Pine Grosbeaks have an unstreaked belly. Also note crisscrossed bill on White-winged Crossbill, but not on Pine Grosbeaks.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, March 02, 2009Similar SpeciesRed Crossbill
Adult male
Red Crossbills are smaller than Pine Grosbeaks. Adult males are entirely red with brownish unmarked wings, while Pine Grosbeaks have at least some gray on them and they have 2 white wingbars.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryBayern, May 23, 2010Similar SpeciesRed Crossbill
Female
Female Red Crossbills have more yellow on their belly than female Pine Grosbeaks. They also have a crisscrossed bill that Pine Grosbeaks don't have.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 25, 2007Similar SpeciesHouse Finch
Adult male
House Finches are much smaller and they have streaky sides and backs, which Pine Grosbeaks lack.
© Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 21, 2017Similar SpeciesHouse Finch
Female/immature
House Finches are much smaller with a smaller bill than Pine Grosbeaks. Females are heavily streaked unlike female Pine Grosbeaks, which have unstreaked underparts.
© Dave Spier / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 15, 2008Similar SpeciesPurple Finch
Adult male (Eastern)
Purple Finches are much smaller with a smaller bill than Pine Grosbeaks. They also have streaky underparts unlike the clean bellied Pine Grosbeaks.
© Wendy Hogan / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 22, 2016Similar SpeciesEvening Grosbeak
Adult male
Evening Grosbeaks have a longer yellow bill than the stubby-billed Pine Grosbeak. They are also brighter yellow with large white wing patches unlike the gray-bodied Pine Grosbeak.
© thomas berriman / Macaulay LibraryVermont, December 10, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Fringillidae)
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