the rose-breasted grosbeak is a member of the cardinal family found across much of north america during their breeding season, with a wintering range in central & south america. the male’s namesake coloring also gives name to a common nickname for the bird, the ‘cut-throat’. males are easily identifiable due to their stark black and white coloring, accented with the bright red present on the chest. females are primarily grey-brown with buff accents. these birds are known as more shy than their northern cardinal cousins, although they are still frequently visible at backyard birdfeeders. they feed on insects, seeds, berries, and occasionally nectar. rose-breasted grosbeaks have an average lifespan of 7.3 years in the wild, but can exceed two decades of life in captivity.
photos sourced from the Macaulay Library
