The Evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) is a passerine bird found in North America. The genus Hesperiphona was introduced by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1850; it originates from Ancient Greek and Latin words and means "evening" and "cry."
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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NomadicNomadic animals regularly move to and from the same areas within a well-defined range. Most animals travel in groups in search of better territorie...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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starts withThe Evening grosbeak is similar in appearance to the Eurasian hawfinch, both being bulky, heavily built finches with large bills and short tails. The adult has a short black tail, black wings, and a large pale bill. The adult male has a bright yellow forehead and body; its head is brown and there is a large white patch in the wing. The adult female is mainly olive-brown, greyer on the underparts, and with white patches in the wings.
Evening grosbeaks breed across Canada, the western mountainous areas of the United States, and Mexico. The migration of these birds is variable and in some winters, they may wander as far south as the southern U.S. Evening grosbeaks inhabit coniferous and mixed forests and may sometimes be found in rural gardens and urban areas.
Evening grosbeaks are social birds and in winter form large flocks; during the breeding season, they usually spend time in pairs and may gather in small groups. Evening grosbeaks are diurnal spending daylight hours foraging in trees and bushes, and sometimes on the ground. They are noisy birds and have a loud distinctive 'chew' call, similar to a glorified House sparrow.
Evening grosbeaks are herbivores (granivores) and carnivores (insectivores). They eat a wide variety of seeds and also some berries and maple sap. In summer their diet also includes various insects, invertebrates, and spruce budworm larvae. Sometimes, they will swallow fine gravel.
Evening grosbeaks are monogamous and form pairs. During courtship display the male performs a “dance” and may also feed the female. The nest is built on a horizontal branch or on a fork of a tree; it is usually built by a female. The clutch is 3 to 4 eggs incubated by the female for about 12-14 days. Chicks hatch helpless with closed eyes and sparse down. Both parents feed their nestling until they fledge which usually occurs 13-14 days after hatching.
The Evening grosbeak is not threatened at present, however, its population is declining rapidly. It is suggested that the main causes include logging and other development in their habitat, decline of insect prey, and collisions with windows.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Evening grosbeak is 5.1 million individuals or 3.4 million mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
Evening grosbeaks play a very important role in their native ecosystem. They feed on big amounts of the spruce budworm which is a parasite of many pulpwood forest stands and can cause damage to trees.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...