Their huge beaks allow them to eat large grasshoppers, crickets and other
insects that have tough exoskeletons. Learn more about grosbeaks.
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Other birds like to eat wild cherries, but only Evening Grosbeaks target
the pits. The slippery seeds are held firmly with special pads on the “gross
beak” and are simply crushed. So favored are cherry pits that Evening
Grosbeaks sometimes seek out the pits voided by American Robins.
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Evening Grosbeaks manipulate cherries in their beak to remove the outer
skin and flesh, the remaining seed is then swallowed after it is cracked
open with their beak.
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Evening Grosbeaks can break open food items that require up to 125 pounds
of force to fracture apart in testing devices.
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As with many finches whose diet is primarily vegetarian, Evening Grosbeaks
are attracted to natural salt and mineral sources.
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The Evening Grosbeak is an irruptive migrant that makes irregular
appearances at winter feeding stations throughout much of United States.
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The Evening Grosbeak was not commonly found east of the Rocky Mountains
before the 1850’s. Winter irruptions now occur in all of the 48 contiguous
states. This expansion may be attributed to widespread planting of box elder
trees in landscapes across the east. Its seeds persist on the tree
throughout the winter and provided flocks with a reliable source of food.
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The Evening Grosbeak was named in 1825 based on erroneous accounts that
they became vocal and active only “at the approach of night.” This erroneous
belief persisted for years, and the name is still a misnomer.
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Evening Grosbeaks seem to delight in snipping off the twigs of Sugar Maple
trees and sipping the sweet sap.
