Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Introduction

Table of Contents

For many Virginians, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is the most thrilling bird that appears in summer at bird-feeding stations. The male’s striking black, white, and red plumage against the green backdrop of summer provides one of the bird world’s most stunning contrasts. The bulk of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s breeding range lies to the north and west of Virginia. However, a southern extension of the range follows the Appalachian Mountains into western Virginia. The species breeds in moist mixed deciduous-coniferous forest as well as semi-open areas, such as woodlots, thickets, and even in parks (Wyatt and Francis 2020).

Breeding Distribution

In Virginia, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks breed only within the Mountains and Valleys region (Figure 1). Within this region, the species is most likely to occur in forested areas at higher elevations and less likely to occur in the valleys.

Between the First and Second Atlases (Figures 1 and 2), the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks’ probable occurrence remained the same across the Mountains and Valleys region (Figure 3).

View Environmental Associations

**Figure 1: Rose-breasted Grosbeak breeding distribution based on probability of occurrence (Second Atlas, 2016–2020).** This map indicates the probability that this species will occur in an Atlas block (an approximately 10 mi² [26 km²] survey unit) based on environmental (including habitat) factors and after adjusting for the probability of detection (based on variation in survey effort among blocks). Blocks in gray are outside the species’ core range and were not modeled.

**Figure 2: Rose-breasted Grosbeak breeding distribution based on probability of occurrence (First Atlas, 1985–1989).** This map indicates the probability that this species will occur in an Atlas block (an approximately 10 mi² [26 km²] survey unit) based on environmental (including habitat) factors and after adjusting for the probability of detection (based on variation in survey effort among blocks). Blocks in white were not surveyed during the First Atlas and were not modeled. Blocks in gray are outside the species’ core range and were not modeled.

**Figure 3: Rose-breasted Grosbeak change in breeding distribution between Atlases (1985–1989 and 2016–2020) based on probability of occurrence.** This map indicates the change in the probability that this species will occur in a block (an approximately 10 mi² [26 km²] survey unit) between Atlas periods. Blocks with no change (tan) may have constant presence or constant absence. Blocks in white were not surveyed during the First Atlas and were not modeled. Blocks in gray are outside the species’ core range and were not modeled.

Breeding Evidence

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were confirmed breeders in 41 blocks and 19 counties and found to be probable breeders in 16 additional counties (Figure 4). As expected, breeding observations were primarily recorded in the high-elevation areas of the Mountains and Valleys region during both Atlas periods (Figures 4 and 5).

The earliest confirmed breeding behavior was recorded at the beginning of May when adults were observed carrying nesting material and nest building (Figure 6). However, breeding was primarily confirmed through observations of adults carrying food (May 29 – September 19), adults feeding young (June 20 – July 25), and recently fledged young (June 23 – August 4).

For more general information on the breeding habits of this species, please refer to All About Birds.

**Figure 4: Rose-breasted Grosbeak breeding observations from the Second Atlas (2016–2020).** The colored boxes illustrate Atlas blocks (approximately 10 mi² [26 km²] survey units) where the species was detected. The colors show the highest breeding category recorded in a block. The numbers within the colors in the legend correspond to the number of blocks with that breeding evidence category.

**Figure 5: Rose-breasted Grosbeak breeding observations from the First Atlas (1985–1989).** The colored boxes illustrate Atlas blocks (approximately 10 mi² [26 km²] survey units) where the species was detected. The colors show the highest breeding category recorded in a block. The numbers within the colors in the legend correspond to the number of blocks with that breeding evidence category.

**Figure 6: Rose-breasted Grosbeak phenology: confirmed breeding codes.** This graph shows a timeline of confirmed breeding behaviors. Tick marks represent individual observations of the behavior.

Population Status

Within the Mountains and Valleys region, Rose-breasted Grosbeak relative abundance was predicted to be highest in high-elevation forests along the Blue Ridge Mountains and much of the border with West Virginia (Figure 7).

The total estimated Rose-breasted Grosbeak population within the Mountains and Valleys region is approximately 22,000 individuals (with a range between 10,000 and 49,000). Based on the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data for the Appalachian Mountains region (the BBS does not produce a credible population trend for Virginia), the Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s population declined by a nonsignificant 0.28% annually from 1966–2022 across this area; however, between Atlases, its population decreased by a significant 1.24% per year from 1987–2018 (Hostetler et al. 2023; Figure 8).

Rose-breasted Grosbeak relative abundance based on predicted density — **Figure 7: Rose-breasted Grosbeak relative abundance (Second Atlas, 2016–2020).** This map indicates the predicted abundance of this species at a 0.4 mi² (1 km²) scale based on environmental (including habitat) factors. Abundance values are presented on a relative scale of low to high. Areas in gray are outside the species’ core range and were not modeled.

**Figure 8: Rose-breasted Grosbeak population trend for the Appalachian Mountains as estimated by the North American Breeding Bird Survey.** The vertical axis shows species abundance; the horizontal axis shows the year. The solid line indicates the estimated population trend; there is a 97.5% probability that the true population trend falls between the dashed lines. The shaded bars indicate the First and Second Atlas periods.

Conservation

Although they have experienced some decline in the state, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are generally common throughout their range and are not considered a species of concern in Virginia (Wyatt and Francis 2020). Thus, no specific conservation projects are underway in Virginia.

Interactive Map

The interactive map contains up to six Atlas layers (probability of occurrence for the First and Second Atlases, change in probability of occurrence between Atlases, breeding evidence for the First and Second Atlases, and abundance for the Second Atlas) that can be viewed one at a time. To view an Atlas map layer, mouse over the layer box in the upper left. County lines and physiographic regional boundaries (Mountains and Valleys, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) can be turned on and off by checking or unchecking the box below the layer box. Within the map window, users can hover on a block to see its value for each layer and pan and zoom to see roads, towns, and other features of interest that are visible beneath a selected layer.

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References

Hostetler, J. A., J. R. Sauer, J. E. Hines, D. Ziolkowski, and M. Lutmerding (2023). The North American breeding bird survey, analysis results 1966–2022. U.S. Geological Survey, Laurel, MD, USA. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SC7T11.

Wyatt, V. E. and C. M. Francis (2020). Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.robgro.01.