Evening Grosbeak    Coccothraustes vespertinus

Conservation Status

General Status in Canada : Secure

COSEWIC Status : Not assessed

Though much of the Evening Grosbeak’s ecology remains poorly documented, the species has shown a steady decline in recent decades. As the species appears to select relatively open areas for nesting, it seems unlikely that commercial forestry operations have negatively impacted them. Due to the species’ propensity to use bird feeders, individuals are frequently killed by colliding into residential windows. The Evening Grosbeak also seems to be susceptible to high mortality from collisions into office buildings in urban areas. Finally, in winters with high snow accumulation, large numbers of grosbeaks and other winter finches are killed on roadsides, attracted by the spread of grit and salt.

Reference(s)

Gillihan, S. W., and B. Byers. 2001. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes verspertinus), The Birds of North America, No. 300. A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists's Union, Washington, D.C.