photo by Phil Swanson

Pinicola enucleator
L 9″ (23 cm).

Song or calls:
Flight call is whistled “pui pui pui.” Alarm call is a musical “chee-vli.”

Description: Large, plump, and long-tailed. Dark, stubby, strongly curved bill. Two white wing bars, sometimes tipped with pink in male. Male is dull rose red overall with dark streaking on back; black wings and tail; and gray on wings and sides. Female and immature have gray underparts and shoulder patches; head color varies from yellowish to reddish.

Habitat: Normally associated with both deciduous and coniferous seed-bearing trees. Occasionally found in orchards and suburban shade trees during the winter.

Where in Nebraska: Rare and irregular winter visitor with vagrants appearing in various places across the state. Can be an irruptive winter migrant.

Fun Facts: Pine Grosbeak adults when breeding develop pouches to carry food to their young.

 
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