Blue Grosbeaks are some of the most vibrantly colored finches. Their strong beaks enable them to open even the hardest of seeds, and the male’s bright blue color helps him stand out to females and intimidate his territorial opponents. Common in the southern United States during the spring and summer months, this bright blue songbird is a treat to see. Keep reading to learn 11 facts about Blue Grosbeaks, and what makes them special!
11 Facts About Blue Grosbeaks
1. Blue Grosbeaks’ closest relative is the Lazuli Bunting.
The Lazuli Bunting is another seed-eating finch that lives in the United States. According to genetic testing, it is thought to be the closest relative of the Blue Grosbeak.
You’re not likely to see them together because their ranges rarely overlap. While the Blue Grosbeak is found in the south, the Lazuli Bunting takes over in the west. However, both buntings are a bright blue color, a unique trait that is rare in the animal kingdom.
This coloring sets them apart from other songbirds.
2. Males and females look very different.
Only the male Blue Grosbeak is the bright lapis-lazuli blue. Females do have a hint of dusky blue feathers, but they are mostly a cinnamon brown with dusky gray wings.
Males, on the other hand, are a deep blue all over. They have two chestnut brown wing bars, dark wings and a dark tail. There is a small black mask of feathers around their beak.
3. In the United States, Blue Grosbeaks are easier to find in the late summer.
Blue Grosbeaks are migratory birds. They divide their time between Central America, the Carribean, and southern Mexico in the winter, with northern Mexico and the southern half of the United States during the summer. This pattern is common among many songbirds. What isn’t so common, however, is their timing.
These bright blue songbirds migrate back to the United States later than their counterparts. This means you might hear a male Blue Grosbeak singing well into July, long after other shrub-native songbirds have stopped calling.