Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) is in the Finches, Euphonias, and Allies family (Fringillidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,502 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
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 Pine Grosbeak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pine Grosbeak
The pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) is a large member of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is found in coniferous woods across Alaska, the western mountains of the United States, Canada, and in subarctic Fennoscandia and Siberia. The species is a frugivore, especially in winter, favoring small fruits, such as rowans (mountain-ashes in the New World). With fruit-crop abundance varying from year to year, pine grosbeak is one of many subarctic-resident bird species that exhibit irruptive...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pine Grosbeak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1,063 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Colorado | 683 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Alaska | 636 | June | Oct–Jul |
| Vermont | 432 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Michigan | 272 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Maine | 168 | February | Nov–Feb |
| California | 151 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wyoming | 145 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 134 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Utah | 128 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Washington | 127 | November | Apr–Feb |
| Idaho | 108 | January | Nov–Mar |
| New York | 103 | December | Dec–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 84 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 79 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 60 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Oregon | 35 | December | Nov–Dec |
| New Mexico | 23 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Texas | 23 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Nevada | 16 | July | May–Aug |
| Nebraska | 8 | January | Dec–Feb |
| South Dakota | 6 | November | Nov–Nov |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch
Evening Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Cassin's Finch
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 Pine Grosbeak?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from November to March.
Where is Pine Grosbeak most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Colorado, Alaska.