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Black-headed Grosbeak Sounds

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© Larry Arbanas | Macaulay Library Arizona, May 01, 2006

Song
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Arizona, June 04, 2005Recorded by Curtis Marantz | Macaulay Library
Calls
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Oregon, June 11, 1989Recorded by Geoffrey A. Keller | Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The Black-headed Grosbeak's whistled song rises and falls like an American Robin's, but it’s longer, sweeter, more varied, and less choppy in its phrases. It's sometimes likened to that of a "drunk" or "operatic" robin. Both males and females sing. The female's song is usually shorter, simpler, and quieter. She sings less frequently than the male, usually from the nest.

Calls

The Black-headed Grosbeak's typical call is a sharp spik uttered frequently to keep contact with mates while foraging. They utter an upslurring wheet upon taking flight. Their distress call is a series of rapidly repeated notes flung out in response to imminent danger to themselves or their chicks, or in violent altercations with other grosbeaks.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Female is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak Female/immature is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Spotted Towhee Adult male is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird Female (Red-winged) is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Bullock's Oriole Adult male  is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Bullock's Oriole

Cassin's Finch Female/immature is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

Purple Finch Female/immature (Western) is similar to Black-headed Grosbeak

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Species in This Family

Cardinals and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Cardinalidae)

Hepatic Tanager

Hepatic Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Western Tanager

Western Tanager

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak

Painted Bunting

Painted Bunting

Browse Species in This Family

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Black-headed Grosbeak

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