Coccothraustes verspertinus vespertinus, C. v. brooksi
Status: Rare casual summer visitor northwest. Rare casual winter visitor statewide.
Documentation: Specimen: brooksi, UNSM ZM7114, 29 Oct 1900 Long Pine, Brown Co. Photograph: vespertinus, Sarpy Co 1 Feb 1986 (Swanson, this account).
Taxonomy: Three subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022): brooksi, breeding from British Columbia to northern California and New Mexico and wintering to southern California and southwest Texas, montanus, resident in southeast Arizona, and verspertinus, breeding from Alberta to New Brunswick and Massachusetts and wintering from Texas to South Carolina.
Two subspecies have been reported in Nebraska, brooksi and vespertinus (Rapp et al 1958). Rosche (1982) banded Evening Grosbeaks in Crawford and two recoveries confirm that brooksi occurs there. One banded 3 Apr 1974 was recovered 21 Jul 1974 in northwest Montana, and another, banded 5 Mar 1980, was recovered twice in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area; first on 24 Apr 1983 and second on 5 Jun 1986. It is likely that most Evening Grosbeaks in at least western Nebraska are brooksi. The Rocky Mountain subspecies brooksi is a “rare summer resident” in the Black Hills of South Dakota and is uncommon in winter there (Tallman et al 2002). The widespread eastern and central North American breeder and winterer vespertinus may occur in Nebraska, especially in the north and east, although there are few recent eastern reports of Evening Grosbeak. Subspecies vespertinus has, however, occurred as far west as eastern Wyoming (Faulkner 2010). There is a banding recovery in Lancaster Co 18 Apr 1986 of a bird banded in New York 16 Mar 1979.
Vocalizations show distinct geographic differences, with five call types recognizable (Sewall et al 2004, Gillihan and Byers 2020), each of the five with a defined breeding range (Haiman 2011) that approximates distribution of the subspecies (Gillihan and Byers 2020). The five call types were described in detail by Young et al (2018). In general, montane western birds have high, clear, untrilled flight calls compared with northern/eastern populations in which the call is more ringing or trilled (Sibley 2000, Gillihan and Byers 2020).
There are four Nebraska reports assigned to two song types.
Type 1 calls are characteristic of western Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and the northernmost portion of California (Young et al 2018, Gillihan and Byers 2020). Five Type 1 birds were recorded at Wilson Park, Chadron, Dawes Co 22 May 2020 (Klanderman, Tonnessen, eBird.org) and at least one of 15 at Wildcat Hills SRA, Scotts Bluff Co 14 Feb 2015 was Type 1 (recording, Sam Manning, eBird.org). In 2023 a Type 1 was recorded at Oliver Reservoir, Kimball Co 10 Oct Mlodinow, eBird.org), and one of four birds was recorded in and near Borman Bridge WMA, Cherry Co 28-29 Sep (Shane Sater, eBird.org). In 2024, a Type 1 was at Ogallala, Keith Co 21 Mar-2 Apr, and three were at NNF Bessey, Thomas Co 10-12 Apr.
Type 4 is restricted to the southern Rockies, including Colorado (Gillihan and Byers 2020). A Type 4 individual at Wayne, Wayne Co 8-12 Nov 2022 was recorded 8 Nov (Ed Brogie, eBird.org) for a first Nebraska record of this song type. At least one Type 4 was recorded from among as many as 20 Evening Grosbeaks in the Wildcat Hills, Scotts Bluff Co 20 Dec 2022 (Mlodinow, eBird.org). Most Evening Grosbeaks on the eastern Colorado plains are Type 4 (Steven Mlodinow, personal communication).
Changes since 2000: Modeling by Bonter and Harvey (2008) using data from Project FeederWatch showed the regular winter range to include most of the Nebraska panhandle as recently as 1989-1994, but this was reduced to the northwest panhandle by 1995-2000, and by 2001-2006 the regular winter range did not include any areas of Nebraska. The nearest portions of the winter range included areas of central Wyoming and Colorado. Nebraska reports have declined in recent years and as a result, the NOURC changed Evening Grosbeak’s status in 2006 from regular to casual i.e. less than annual in occurrence (Brogie 2006).
Summer: Breeding occurs rarely in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota (Tallman et al 2002), and there is some evidence breeding may have once occurred on the Pine Ridge, especially in Dawes Co. Rosche (1982) cited a statement without details by Blinco (1946) that nesting had occurred at Chadron, Dawes Co, and in the period 1976-1994 there were several summer occurrences suggestive of breeding. Rosche (1982) described a family group which attended his Crawford, Dawes Co feeders 4 Aug-early Oct 1976; the young were capable of flight, and so may not have fledged in Nebraska. There is a report 22 Aug 1986 Dawes Co, and a pair with young appeared at the Rosche feeder in 1989 (Grzybowski 1989). At least one bird summered in Dawes Co in 1990, but no young were seen (Grzybowski 1990). However, a juvenile appeared at the Rosche feeder 13 Jul 1991, stated to be “only the 2nd confirmed nesting for this area in recent years” (Grzybowski 1991), up to three were there during Jun and Jul 1993 (Grzybowski 1993), and a female was there 28 Jul 1994 (Silcock 1994). The species was listed as a “permanent resident” in Dawes Co in 1993 (Cortelyou 1993). None of these reports of young birds 1976-1994, however, involved juveniles incapable of active flight.
Evening Grosbeak has been of regular occurrence only in the Panhandle, but not since the early 2000s.; no Evening Grosbeaks were reported during either the first (1984-1989) or second (2006-2011) BBAs (Mollhoff 2001, 2016). Outside the Panhandle, occurrence is irregular and increasingly infrequent, especially in eastern Nebraska, where, despite the large number of observers, since 1982 the species has been seen less often than elsewhere in the state. Numbers have declined sharply over much of their range in recent decades (Bonter and Harvey 2008). BBS trend analysis (Sauer et al 2017) shows annual continental declines of -6.36% (95 C.I.; -18.59, -4.72) 1966-2013, although regionally, in Wyoming BBS trend analysis shows an annual decline of -14.56% (95% C.I.; -29.78, 2.78) 1966-2013 (Sauer et al 2017) and relatively stable populations in Colorado. However, the Colorado Bird Atlas Project (2016) showed a -29% change in the number of BBA blocks the species was reported between the first (1987-1995) and second (2007-2012) Colorado BBA projects. Consequences of the decline include a contraction of the species’ winter range and reduced flock sizes where it does still occur regularly (Bonter and Harvey 2008).
Winter: Sep 12, 13, 13 <<<>>> May 24, 26, 29 (west, central); Oct 25, 28, 28 <<<>>> Apr 28, May 2, 3 (east)
Later dates in the east are 3-11 May 2013 Washington Co, and 3 Jun 2021 Otoe Co.
CBC data illustrate the erratic nature of occurrence in Nebraska in the late Dec period. There have been three peaks of occurrence on CBCs: 1963-1964 with 101 birds counted, 1977-1978 with 178, and 1996-1997 with 148. Since 1996-1997, through 2016-2017, this species had not been reported on a Nebraska CBC until 21 Dec 2019 when two were on the Crawford CBC.
Winter 1985-1986 was described as an “irruption year” in the northeast, when 19 were at Ashford Scout Camp, Dakota Co 1 Jan 1986 (Bill Huser, personal communication).
Since the 1990s, there have been multiple reports only in spring 2010 (see Spring, above) and winters 2012-2013, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024.
Interestingly, of the six reports during winter 2012-2013, four reports in mid-Oct and early Nov were in the west and the other two in the extreme east, suggesting different provenances. The western reports were of two in a yard near Mitchell, Scotts Bluff Co 17 Oct, one in a Lincoln Co yard 19 Oct, 4-5 at Wildcat Hills NC 26 Oct, and a male in an Ogallala, Keith Co yard 1 Nov (Brogie 2013), and in the east a single female at a Blair feeder 22 Jan-11 May and one identified by its call at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha 24 Feb.
In winter 2019-2020 two were at Wildcat Hills NC, Scotts Bluff Co 12 Nov (Brogie 2020), two were at Ponderosa WMA, Dawes Co 21 Dec (not accepted by NOURC, Brogie 2020) and four at Wildcat Hills NC 22 Dec.
In winter 2020-2021, not unexpected were two at Wildcat Hills NC 26 Oct and singles in Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 6 Dec and 6 Jan, but almost unprecedented away from the Pine Ridge, especially in summer, was the appearance of perhaps the same male at feeders about 10 miles apart in Otoe Co in 2021, both photographed. One of these was near Avoca, Otoe Co 3 Jun and the other at Unadilla, Otoe Co 6 Jul (fide JGJ). A male was at a Wayne, Wayne Co feeder 8-12 Nov 2022.
In winter 2022-2023, the three reports in the Wildcat Hills, Scotts Bluff Co may have involved the same flock: 6-12 were at Wildcat Hills NC 9-12 Dec, dwindling to one through 30 Dec, 20 were just above Carter Canyon on Summit Ridge Road 11 Dec, and six were in the canyon later the same morning. Also, in 2023 three were reported in Thomas Co 10 Apr (eBird.org photo).
The only reports in winter 2023-2024 were of four at Buffalo Creek WMA, Scotts Bluff Co 28 Jan, one at an Ogallala, Keith Co feeder 21 Mar-2 Apr, 10-12 Apr NNF Bessey, Thomas Co, 28 Apr (4) Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co, 11 May (3) Chadron SP, Dawes Co, and 13 May, last 3 of peak 15 during winter in southeastern Dawes Co.
Additional isolated reports since the 1990s were of one in Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co 4 Dec 2004, a single male photographed at Hay Springs, Sheridan Co 1 Jan 2018 (Brogie 2019), a male and female at a North Platte, Lincoln Co feeder 7 Mar 2014 the female last seen 10 Mar, one at NNF Bessey, Thomas Co 11 Apr 2011, and a female at a Cass Co feeder 3 May 2018 (Brogie 2019).
In the western half of the state, individuals can appear as early as Aug; there are earlier reports away from the Pine Ridge 14 Jul 2006 Wildcat Hills, Scotts Bluff Co, 6 Aug 2020 near Long Pine, Rock Co, 19 Aug 1978 Lancaster Co (Williams 1979), 24 Aug 1982 Lincoln Co, 27 Aug 2017 Wildcat Hills NC, Scotts Bluff Co, and 3-5 Sep 1965 Douglas Co. Early records cited above are 12 Sep 1975 Adams Co, 13 Sep 1986 Lincoln Co, and 13 Sep 2017 at Wildcat Hills NC, Scotts Bluff Co (Brogie 2018).
In the east, where the species is only casual in occurrence, arrival is about a month later than in the west and central, with early dates in late Oct. This may be due to differences in timing of movements of eastern and western subspecies.
In the east, spring departure is about a month earlier than elsewhere, possibly because of differing subspecies (see above), although there are later dates 8 May 1999 Fort Niobrara NWR, Cherry Co, 9 May 1951 Adams Co, 5 Feb-11 May 2013 female Blair, Washington Co (Brogie 2014), 14 May 1962 Hamilton Co, 18 May 1967 Adams Co, 20 May 1986 Douglas Co (Williams 1986), and about 12 on 6 Jun 1965 Thomas Co (Roger Sharpe, personal communication).
A rather amazing showing involving several flocks delighted NOU members in Dawes and Sheridan Cos 14-16 May 2010, apparently the first record for the species since the early 1990s; two of a flock of 28 were photographed there 15 May (Brogie 2011).
Breeding has not been proven in Nebraska; see Summer.
- High counts: 30 in Washington Co 29 Nov 1985 (American Birds 40: 137) and 20 in Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 28 Nov 1998.
Images
Abbreviations
BBA: Breeding Bird Atlas
BBS: Breeding Bird Survey
CBC: Christmas Bird Count
NC: Nature Center
NNF: Nebraska National Forest
NOU: Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union
NOURC: Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
SRA: State Recreation Area
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Wildlife Management Area (State)
Acknowledgement
Photograph (top) of an Evening Grosbeak at Papillion, Sarpy Co 1 Feb 1986 by Phil Swanson.
Literature Cited
Blinco, G. 1946. Notes on Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings at Chadron, Dawes County. NBR 14: 45.
Bonter, D.N., and M.G. Harvey. 2008. Winter Survey Data Reveal Rangewide Decline in Evening Grosbeak Populations. Condor 110: 376-381.
Brogie, M.A. 2006. 2005 (17th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 74: 69-74.
Brogie, M.A. 2011. 2010 (22nd) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 79: 99-111.
Brogie, M.A. 2013. 2012 (24th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR: 81: 120-130.
Brogie, M.A. 2014. 2013 (25th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 82: 131-146.
Brogie, M.A. 2018. 2017 (29th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 86: 131-142.
Brogie, M.A. 2019. 2018 (30th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 87: 96-109.
Brogie, M.A. 2020. 2019 (31st) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 88: 124-134.
Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership [CBAP]. 2016. The Second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas online database. Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Cortelyou, R.G. 1993. The Spring 1993 Occurrence Report. NBR 61: 94-136.
Faulkner, D.W. 2010. Birds of Wyoming. Roberts and Company, Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Gillihan, S.W. and B.E. Byers. 2020. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.evegro.01.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1989. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 43: 1334-1336.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1990. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 44: 1152-1154.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1991. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 45: 1132-1134.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1993. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 47: 1122-1124.
Haiman, A.N.K. 2011. Levels of variation in evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) calls and morphology (Order No. 1502353). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (909054837). Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/909054837?accountid=10267.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2001. The Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas 1984-1989. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Papers No. 7. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Mollhoff, W.J. 2016. The Second Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Museum Vol 29. University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Rapp, W.F. Jr., J.L.C. Rapp, H.E. Baumgarten, and R.A. Moser. 1958. Revised checklist of Nebraska birds. Occasional Papers 5, Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Crete, Nebraska, USA.
Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.
Sauer, J.R., D.K. Niven, J.E. Hines, D.J. Ziolkowski, Jr, K.L. Pardieck, J.E. Fallon, and W.A. Link. 2017. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 – 2015 (Nebraska). Version 2.07. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
Sewall, K., R. Kelsey, and T.P. Hahn. 2004. Discrete Variants of Evening Grosbeak Flight Calls. Condor 106: 161-165. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1370527.
Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, New York, USA.
Silcock, W.R. 1994. Summer Field report, June-July 1994. NBR 62: 102-116.
Tallman, D.A., Swanson, D.L., and J.S. Palmer. 2002. Birds of South Dakota. Midstates/Quality Quick Print, Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA.
Williams, F. 1979. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 33: 191-193.
Williams, F. 1986. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 40: 491-494.
Young, M., T. Spahr, and A. Spencer. 2018. Evening Grosbeak Call Types of North America. Team eBird News, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Evening Grosbeak Call Types of North America – eBird.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes verspertinus). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 13 Aug 2024