University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Birds of the Great Plains (Revised edition 2009) by Paul Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences 2009 Birds of the Great Plains: Family Fringillidae (Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings) Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscibirdsgreatplains Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "Birds of the Great Plains: Family Fringillidae (Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings)" (2009). Birds of the Great Plains (Revised edition 2009) by Paul Johnsgard. 60. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscibirdsgreatplains/60 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Birds of the Great Plains (Revised edition 2009) by Paul Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. FAMIL YFRINGILLIDAE (GROSBEAKS, FINCHES, SPARROWS, AND BUNTINGS) . Cardinal Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis (Richmondena cardinalis) Breeding Status: Breeds from the Red River Valley of southeast­ ern North Dakota (north to Cass County) southward through adjacent southwestern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota (north along the Missouri River at least to Dewey County), most of Nebraska (west to Cherry, Thomas, and Deuel counties), eastern Colorado (at least to Morgan County), virtually all of Kansas (local and infrequent west of Seward, Hamilton, and Cheyenne counties), Oklahoma (west locally at least to Texas County), and the eastern panhandle of Texas (west at least to Potter County), The northern range limits of this species have expanded consider­ ably in this century (Wilson Bulletin 68: 111-17). Breeding Habitat: The species is associated with forest edges or brushy forest openings, parks and residential areas planted to shrubs and low trees, and second-growth woods, and with river bottom gallery forests in grasslands. Nest Location: Nests are usually 3-8 feet (rarely to 40 feet) in dense shrubbery, small trees, vines, or briar thickets. The nest is constructed of twigs, vines, and other materials in a loose cup, lined with fine grasses and hair. The nests are usually well con­ cealed in forks or in mats of vine stems but at times are placed very close to human traffic patterns. Clutch Size and Incubation Period: From 3 to 6 eggs (65 Kansas clutches averaged 3.5). The eggs are grayish to bluish white, with brown dots, spots, and blotches varying greatly in extent. The incubation period is 12-13 days. Regularly multiple-brooded in our region. Time of Breeding: Nests with eggs have been found in North Dakota and Minnesota from late April to early June. In Kansas the range of egg dates is from April 1 to September 20, with a peak in initial clutches about May 1, followed by asynchronous breeding through the summer. Texas egg records extend from March 3 to July 31. Breeding Biology: Pair bonds are probably fairly permanent in this relatively sedentary species, and toward the end of winter males show such signs of the reawakening of sexual behavior as tolerating females on the same feeding platform and sometimes directly feeding them. Territorial display begins early; the males sing in prominent locations and chase other males away. Thus non breeding assemblages gradually break up, and females begin to seek out suitable nest sites. The female usually builds the nest alone, over a period of 3 to 9 days, and lays the first egg within a week of its completion. Normally the female incubates alone, although at times males have been observed sitting on the nest._ Both parents feed the nestlings, which leave the nest in 7-11 days 447 and are able to fly well by the time they are 19 days old. By about 45 days the young are completely independent of their parents, which by then have usually begun another brood. At least three broods are commonly raised in a season, and in some areas as many as four are fairly common. Suggested Reading: Laskey 1944; Bent 1968. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Breeding Status: Breeds in western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota to the Souris River and rarely the Missouri River (Wi/son Bulletin 85:230-36), southward through eastern South Dakota west at least to Todd County (Wi/son Bulletin 85: I-II), eastern Nebraska west to Garfield and Buffalo counties (Nebraska Bird Review 29: 19), eastern Kansas west locally to Rawlins County (Rising 1974), and eastern Oklahoma (west locally at least to Kay and Cleveland counties). Hybridization with the black-headed grosbeak makes the western limits of this species rather difficult to define (Auk 79:399-424). Breeding Habitat: The species is associated with relatively open deciduous forests on floodplains, slopes, and bluffs. The relative development of the understory is apparently not particularly important in this species (Wi/son Bulletin 86:7). Nest Location: In a South Dakota study, most grosbeak nests (both species) were 10-19 feet above the ground, and box elders "==:W~~ were favored nesting trees. More generally the forks and crotches of various deciduous trees are used, and the nest is poorly con­ structed of twigs and grasses, lined with fine twigs and rootlets. Clutch Size and Incubation Period: From 3 to 5 eggs (6 North Dakota nests averaged 3.8). The eggs are pale grayish to bluish, with dark brownish spots and blotches around the larger end, often forming a cap or wreath. The incubation period is 12-14 days. Usually single-brooded; double-brooding is reported in semicaptive birds. Time of Breeding: North Dakota egg dates.are from May 31 to June 27. In Kansas, eggs have been reported from May 11 to July 11, with a probable peak of laying in early June. Breeding Biology: Immediately after the males return to their breeding areas in spring, they establish territories and begin to announce them with a warbled song and aggressive encounters with other males. Females arrive a few days later and are initially chased aggressively by males. Soon the male stops chasing the female, and she may attack him instead. Courtship feeding of the female is apparently uncommon in this species. The female builds 448 the nest with the help of the male, and the male regularly partici- pates in incubation. Both sexes care for the young, and at least in two cases the males have been known to take over the care of young birds while the female began a second nesting. The young remain in the nest 9-12 days. Suggested Reading: Dunham 1966; Bent 1968. Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus me/anocepha/us Breeding Status: Breeds in western North Dakota east to the Missouri River and rarely to the Souris River, in western South Dakota east at least to Charles Mix County, and occurs as hy­ brids to Clay County (Wilson Bulletin 86:5), in Nebraska east­ ward locally to at least Rock, Garfield, and Hall counties (Ne­ braska Bird Review 29:19), in northwestern Kansas (east locally or sporadically at least to Cloud and perhaps Sedgwick counties, but mostly confined to the northwestern counties), and northeast­ ern Colorado (at least the Platte Valley). The only other breeding record for our region seems to be Quay County, New Mexico. Eastern limits of breeding are confused by frequent hybridization with the rose-breasted grosbeak (Auk 79:399-424; Wilson Bul­ letin 85:230-36). Breeding Habitat: The species is associated primarily with rela­ tively open stands of deciduous forest in floodplains or uplands, especially those with well-developed understories. Also found secondarily in orchards, brushy woodlands or chaparral, and parks or suburbs with many trees. Nest Location: The nest location and nest structure of this species seems to be identical to that of the rose-breasted grosbreak. Nests average about 10 feet above the ground and are usually in crotches or forks of horizontal or vertical branches of deciduous trees. The nest is a bulky structure of slender twigs, stems, and rootlets, lined with rootlets and fine stems. Clutch Size and Incubation Period: From 2 to 5 eggs, usually 3 or 4. The eggs are not distinguishable from those of the rose­ breasted grosbeak. The incubation period is 12 days. Probably single-brooded. Time of Breeding: The probable breeding season in North Da­ kota extends from late May to late July. In Kansas the egg records are from May 11 to July 10, with a peak of egg-laying in early June. Breeding Biology: So far as is known, the breeding biology of this species is essentially identical to that of the rose-breasted gros­ beak. Studies of these two closely related forms in North Dakota indicate that the courtship behavior of the two is very similar, and 449 thus the color differences among the males are likely to be impor­ tant in avoiding more widespread hybridization than occurs. Males apparently do not discriminate between the songs of their own and the other species, but do make visual discriminations when confronted with mounted males placed in their territories. Suggested Reading: Weston 1947; Kroodsma 1970. Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea (Passerina caerulea) Breeding Status: Breeds from central South Dakota (north at least to Haakon and Dewey counties, Nebraska Bird Review 29: 11) southward through virtually all of Nebraska (local in east), western Iowa (uncommonly), northwestern Missouri (occa­ sionally), Kansas (increasingly common to west), eastern Colo­ rado (uncommonly), Oklahoma (throughout), northern Texas and northeastern New Mexico. Breeding Habitat: The species is associated with weedy pastures, old fields growing up to saplings, forest edges, streamside thick­ ets, and hedgerows. Nest Location: Nests are placed 3-12 feet high in a variety of shrubs, small trees, vines, and so forth, usually at the edge of a clearing.