SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Bird · family Cardinalidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
47 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
13 years[4]

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a songbird in the family Cardinalidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Rose-breasted Grosbeak a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5B, Secure for the breeding season[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5B (Secure (breeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Rose-breasted Grosbeak lives

NatureServe lists this bird as native in 47 US states and territories[3]. These include Maine, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, Colorado and Wyoming[3]. Online observation records on GBIF are highest in New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not how many birds live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5BVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5BNHWashington: native, state rank SNAWAIdaho: native, state rank SNAIDMontana: native, state rank SNAMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRBNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRBMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5BMAOregon: native, state rank SNAORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S1WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5BSDIowa: native, state rank S5B,S5NIAIndiana: native, state rank S4BINOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S3B,S4NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S4BRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: native, state rank SNAUTColorado: native, state rank SNACONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRBMOKentucky: native, state rank S3BKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5BWVVirginia: native, state rank S4VAMaryland: native, state rank S3BMDDelaware: native, state rank S1BDEArizona: native, state rank S3NAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S4NNMKansas: native, state rank S4BKSArkansas: native, state rank SNAARTennessee: native, state rank S4B,S5NTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S4BNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S4SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S3NDCOklahoma: native, state rank S2BOKLouisiana: native, state rank SNALAMississippi: native, state rank SNAMSAlabama: native, state rank SNRMALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: native, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (47 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNRMNot Ranked (migrant)
ArizonaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
ColoradoSNANot Applicable
ConnecticutS5BSecure (breeding)
DelawareS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
District of ColumbiaS3NVulnerable (nonbreeding)
FloridaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
IowaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
KansasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
KentuckyS3BVulnerable (breeding)
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MaineS5BSecure (breeding)
MarylandS3BVulnerable (breeding)
MassachusettsS5BSecure (breeding)
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MississippiSNANot Applicable
MissouriSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
MontanaSNANot Applicable
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New HampshireS5BSecure (breeding)
New JerseyS3B,S4NVulnerable (breeding), Apparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5BSecure (breeding)
North CarolinaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
North DakotaSNRBNot Ranked (breeding)
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaS2BImperiled (breeding)
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
South CarolinaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaS5BSecure (breeding)
TennesseeS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
TexasS4Apparently Secure
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS5BSecure (breeding)
VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5BSecure (breeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS1Critically Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records forest, woodland, shrubland, suburban and orchard areas, forested wetland and riparian areas as habitat[12]. The notes describe second-growth woods, forest edges, wooded stream borders, gardens, parks and old orchards[13]. In migration and winter it uses forest, woodland and scrub, and it avoids the inside of closed forest[13]. It usually stays high in trees[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are about 20 cm (8 in) long[14]. They weigh about 46 g[15]. NatureServe describes the adult diet as insects, seeds and fruit[16]. One estimate puts the diet at 50% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% fruit and 10% other plant material[17]. Clutches hold 3 to 5 eggs, and both parents tend the young[18]. The longest recorded lifespan is 24 years[19]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 13 years 0 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 20 cm (8 in)
Typical adult weight[15] 46 g (1.6 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 24 years
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 13 years 0 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 12 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[16] Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore
Migration[23] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[17]

  • 50% invertebrates
  • 20% seeds
  • 20% fruit
  • 10% other plant material

When to look for it

This bird is active in the daytime[24]. It is a long-distance migrant[23]. It usually arrives in the eastern US and southern Canada in May, and eggs are laid mostly in May and June[25][18]. Most GBIF records fall in May, June and September[26]. Records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 1,111 recordsJanFebruary: 775 recordsFebMarch: 1,155 recordsMarApril: 190,112 recordsAprMay: 1,056,653 recordsMayJune: 300,053 recordsJunJuly: 148,865 recordsJulAugust: 98,595 recordsAugSeptember: 215,400 recordsSepOctober: 74,977 recordsOctNovember: 3,653 recordsNovDecember: 1,424 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,111
February775
March1,155
April190,112
May1,056,653
June300,053
July148,865
August98,595
September215,400
October74,977
November3,653
December1,424

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Rose-breasted Grosbeak as present in 151 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 127 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 47 US states and territories[3]. It uses forest edges, woodland, parks and gardens[12][13].
What does the Rose-breasted Grosbeak eat?
It eats insects, seeds and fruit[16]. One estimate gives a diet of 50% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% fruit and 10% other plant material[17].
How big is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak?
A typical adult is about 20 cm (8 in) long[14]. It weighs about 46 g[15].
How long does a Rose-breasted Grosbeak live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 24 years[19]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 13 years 0 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Rose-breasted Grosbeak is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Rose-breasted Grosbeak: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Rose-breasted Grosbeak as native in 47 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Rose-breasted Grosbeak from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 13 years 0 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is a bird in the family Cardinalidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5B (Secure (breeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Rose-breasted Grosbeak is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Rose-breasted Grosbeak: New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Rose-breasted Grosbeak (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Forest - hardwood, Woodland - hardwood, Shrubland/chaparral, Suburban/orchard, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Rose-breasted Grosbeak. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 20 cm (8 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 46 g (1.6 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Granivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 50% invertebrates, 20% seeds, 20% fruit, 10% other plant material. EltonTraits 1.0
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Rose-breasted Grosbeak. NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 24 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 12 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for Rose-breasted Grosbeak: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for Rose-breasted Grosbeak. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording Rose-breasted Grosbeak as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.