Evening grosbeaks are striking birds with bright yellow and black plumage. They breed in coniferous and mixed forests across Canada and the northern United States. Many birders look forward to seeing evening grosbeaks visit their feeders in winter, when they often travel in flocks and devour sunflower seeds voraciously. But do these winter visitors make it as far south as Michigan?
Range and Migration
The evening grosbeak has a widespread breeding range across Canada and the northern United States. Their breeding range extends from Alaska across Canada to Quebec and the Maritime provinces. It reaches south into the northern tier of U.S. states including Washington, Montana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Maine (1).
Evening grosbeaks are irruptive winter migrants, meaning their movement patterns are irregular from year to year. In some winters they may remain in their northern breeding grounds if food is plentiful there. In other years when food is scarce farther north, they may wander south in search of resources (2).
When evening grosbeaks do migrate south in winter, they can reach fairly far down into the United States. Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts are all states where evening grosbeaks may turn up in winter, particularly during irruption years (1).
Wintering in Michigan
Michigan falls right within the typical wintering range for evening grosbeaks. eBird records show sightings submitted from locations across Michigan in winter months, confirming that evening grosbeaks do regularly winter in the state (3).
Northern parts of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula seem to host wintering grosbeaks more consistently, while they appear more sporadically across southern sections of the state. Counts along the west coast, in the northwest interior, and in the northeast Lower Peninsula are most likely to tally evening grosbeaks each winter (4).
Some well-known birding hotspots in northern Michigan have a good track record for finding wintering flocks, including:
- Tawas Point State Park
- Hartwick Pines State Park
- Wilderness State Park
- Mackinac Island
The Upper Peninsula is another prime area to find evening grosbeaks in winter. They are reported on Christmas Bird Counts across the U.P. each year, including locations like Duluth, Marquette, Munising, Newberry, Paradise, and Seney (5).
Notable evening grosbeak irruptions may bring the birds down into southern Michigan as well. During the widespread outbreak of 2020-2021, evening grosbeaks were observed at feeding stations as far south as metro Detroit. Backyard sightings were reported from suburbs like Northville, Canton, Livonia, and Grosse Point Woods (6).
Habitats Used
Evening grosbeaks prefer coniferous or mixed forests in both their breeding and wintering habitats. In northern Michigan, look for them in stands of spruce, fir, pine, hemlock, and other conifers. Farther south they also visit deciduous woods, parks, and backyards that offer supplemental food sources.
In winter, evening grosbeaks frequent sites with seed-bearing trees and shrubs. Some of their favorite natural food sources include (7):
- Maple seeds (samaras)
- Ash seeds
- Crabapples and other fruit trees
- Conifer seeds
- Sumac, rose, and buckbrush fruit
Wintering grosbeaks will also readily come to backyard bird feeders stocked with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. They prefer platform feeders with ample perching space for a flock.
What They Eat
Evening grosbeaks are mainly seed eaters. Their massive bills are adapted for crushing hard seeds and extracting the meaty interior.
In summer, evening grosbeaks feed heavily on tree seeds like those from maples, ashes, and conifers. They also consume berries and fruits such as serviceberries, chokecherries, elderberries, and raspberries. Adults feed insects and spiders to their nestlings to provide protein for growth and development (8).
In winter, evening grosbeaks continue to seek out seeds from trees and shrubs. This includes mast crops like acorns, beechnuts, and mountain ash berries when available. At backyard feeders they gorge on sunflower seeds and peanuts.
An evening grosbeak’s diet consists of approximately (9):
- 64% tree seeds
- 13% leaf buds
- 12% fruits and berries
- 11% insect matter
By switching seasonally between tree seeds, fruits, buds, and some insects, evening grosbeaks are able to adapt to changes in food availability. Their varied diet helps explain how they survive cold northern winters.
When and Where to See Them
In Michigan, evening grosbeaks typically arrive in late fall or early winter. The highest numbers are usually present between December and March (4).
Some top spots for finding evening grosbeaks in northern Michigan include:
| Location | County | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tahquamenon Falls State Park | Luce | Flocks in coniferous forests |
| Mackinac Straits | Mackinac | Try the city of Mackinac Island |
| Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park | Ontonagon | Numerous sightings along the escarpment |
In southern Michigan, evening grosbeaks may turn up at backyard feeders during irruption years. They are often reported from suburbs near Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and other major population centers.
The map below shows eBird reports of evening grosbeaks during a recent irruption winter:
Identification
Male evening grosbeaks are easily identified by their bright yellow bodies and black wings, head, and tail. They have a massive pale bill. Females are mostly gray with yellow rumps, black wings, and pale bills (10).
Evening grosbeaks are chunky songbirds, slightly smaller than robins. They often perch atop feeders, and fly in flocks with chattering calls.
In winter they can be confused with:
- Pine Grosbeaks – Males are rose-red, females yellowish. Smaller bills.
- Purple Finches – Raspberry-red males and streaky brown females. More slender with notched tails.
- Yellow-rumped Warblers – Males have yellow rumps but also yellow spot on side. Females duller.
- American Goldfinches – Smaller with slimmer bills. Black cap and wings.
Sounds
Evening grosbeaks produce a variety of squeaks, chirps, and nasal calls. They make metallic cleeep notes while perched, and chattering cher or chit-it-it sounds in flight.
Listen for their vocalizations to detect a flock as they travel between food sources. Calls can draw your attention to an evening grosbeak flock passing overhead or visiting a feeder.
Attracting Them
Here are some tips to attract evening grosbeaks to your yard:
- Stock platform feeders with sunflower seeds, their favorite food. Offer hulled sunflower hearts for maximum appeal.
- Supplement with suet, peanuts, millet, and nyjer thistle seed.
- Situate feeders in a visible location with ample cover nearby.
- Use mesh feeders or catch trays to keep the area clean.
- Provide a source of grit like sand for seed digestion.
- Offer fresh water for bathing and drinking.
- Be patient! It may take time for word to spread about your feeders.
Conservation Status
Evening grosbeaks are classified as a Species of Special Concern in Michigan. While still fairly widespread, their numbers have declined significantly since the 1960s, based on Breeding Bird Survey data (11).
Habitat loss is thought to be the major cause of evening grosbeak declines, especially from timber harvesting in boreal forests. Climate change may also impact their food supplies. And fatal collisions with windows is another documented threat for this species (12).
Bird lovers can support evening grosbeak conservation by:
- Making windows bird safe. Use tape, screens, decals to prevent collisions.
- Keeping cats indoors to reduce predation.
- Providing natural food and water sources in yards.
- Limiting pesticide use which reduces insect prey.
- Participating in citizen science projects like the Great Backyard Bird Count to track populations.
Sustained conservation efforts across the evening grosbeak’s breeding and wintering grounds will be key to ensuring the long-term survival of these irruptive migrants.
Summary
Evening grosbeaks are striking yellow and black birds that breed across Canada and the northern U.S. They are irruptive winter migrants that move south in search of food. Michigan falls within their typical wintering range, especially in the state’s northern half. During irruption years, evening grosbeaks may reach as far south as central Michigan. Look for them in coniferous or mixed forests, and at backyard feeders stocked with sunflower seeds. Providing food, water, and safe conditions will support these declining winter visitors. Evening grosbeaks brighten cold northern winters with their big bills, bold colors, and voracious appetites.
