Yellow-billed Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Yellow-billed Grosbeak is an East Asian finch found in woods, gardens, and orchards, with no regular wild population in the United States. Its thick yellow bill has a dark tip, and males have a black hood and white-tipped wing feathers. It is also called the Chinese Grosbeak.

Appearance

Appearance: This sturdy finch is about 7.5 in (19 cm) long. It has a thick yellow bill with a dark tip, a gray-brown body, dark wings and tail, and white at the tips of the flight feathers; adult males have a broad black hood.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: open deciduous woods
mixed and bamboo forests
gardens and orchards
Range: It breeds in northeastern Asia, including Korea, and farther south in China; many move south for winter. It has no regular wild population in the United States.
Seasonal presence: It is migratory across much of its East Asian range.

Behavior

Diet: It cracks seeds and hard fruits with its heavy bill and also eats insects during summer and the breeding season.
Social life: Pairs are typical during the breeding season, while small groups may forage together at other times.

Life cycle

Breeding season: Egg laying is reported in May and June in its East Asian breeding range.
Nest: The cup nest is built in a tree from leaves, plant stems, mud, and spider silk.
Clutch size: 4–5 eggs

Name and classification

About the name: Two are recognized: E. m. migratoria breeds across northeastern Asia, while E. m. sowerbyi breeds farther south in China.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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