Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 25,755 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Black-headed Grosbeak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Black-headed Grosbeak
The black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is a medium-sized, seed-eating bird in the same family as the northern cardinal, the Cardinalidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the rose-breasted grosbeak (P. ludovicianus) with which it hybridizes on the American Great Plains.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Black-headed Grosbeak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 11,457 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Arizona | 3,248 | May | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 2,313 | May | May–Jul |
| Washington | 2,138 | May | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 1,560 | May | May–Jul |
| Colorado | 1,351 | May | May–Jul |
| Utah | 1,083 | May | May–Jul |
| Texas | 1,070 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 356 | May | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 323 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 228 | June | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | 162 | May | May–Jul |
| South Dakota | 155 | June | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | 92 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 57 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 23 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Alaska | 17 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Kansas | 17 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 14 | October | Oct–Dec |
| New Jersey | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 10 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Illinois | 9 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 9 | May | May–May |
| New York | 6 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Florida | 5 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Michigan | 5 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Missouri | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager
Painted Bunting
Western Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Black-headed Grosbeak?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Black-headed Grosbeak most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Arizona, Oregon.