How to Attract Red Breasted Grosbeaks

Red-breasted grosbeaks (also called Rose breasted grosbeaks) are among some of the most popular wild birds. The males are highly colorful, and their song is quite delightful.Red breasted grosbeaks live in the eastern and central states, preferring wooded habitat such as the edges of forests and orchards. If you live in a region where grosbeaks live, it is very easy to attract them to your yard.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• one or more bird feeders of the hopper, platform, or tube type.
• appropriate food for the feeder(s)
• trees from which to hang the feeder(s)

1. Fill one or more bird feeders with the appropriate food for red breasted grosbeaks.

2. Hang the feeder(s) from tree branches.

3. Set up and fill a source of water for the red breasted grosbeaks. Be sure to keep it clean, and to keep the water fresh.

4. If possible, plant elm, hickory, and white ash trees in your yard. The seeds and buds of these trees provide another food source for the red breasted grosbeaks.

Tips & Warnings

• Red breasted grosbeaks love to eat potato bugs, gypsy moths, sunflower seeds, corn, thistle, safflower, cherries, white ash tree buds, elm tree seeds, hickory tree blossoms, and suet. Creating an environment rich in their favorite foods will help attract red breasted grosbeaks to your yard.
• Like all birds, red breasted grosbeaks need water to drink and bathe in. Make sure you remember to provide fresh water for the birds.
• Twigs are the building material red breasted grosbeaks use in their nests. Leave twigs on the ground for the birds to build with.
• The red breasted grosbeaks make twig nests that are thin enough to be seen through. Do not touch or disturb their nests or eggs.
• Brown headed cowbirds are known as brood parasites because they leave their eggs in the nests of other bird species. The red breasted grosbeak is one bird brown headed cowbirds like to target. If you see a red breasted grosbeak expelling an egg from the nest, do not be alarmed. It is most likely the egg of a brood parasite species. However, the brown headed cowbirds will commonly destroy the nest their eggs are removed from, so keep an eye out for this nuisance bird.

Resources

• Red breasted grosbeak photos
• How to identify a red breasted grosbeak