Hybrid Black-headed X Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Description:

The Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is a medium-size seed-eating bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, the Cardinalidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, P. ludovicianus, with which it hybridises on the Great Plains. The 19 cm long, 47 g weight Black-headed Grosbeak is a migratory bird, with nesting grounds from southwestern British Columbia, through the western half of the United States, into central Mexico. It occurs as an accidental further south in Central America.

Habitat:

Riparian area next to coast

Notes:

This hybrid has returned to the same breeding grounds as last year. It sings the same song as the neighboring Black-headed Grosbeaks.