Description
The Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) is the largest member of the finch family in Alaska topping out at around 9 inches in length. They have large rounded bellies. Pine Grosbeak stand out with males being unusually colorful for a bird of their size in Alaska. The males are a pinkish to rosy red from head to rump, with an under coloring of gray. Their wings are black and white bars, running from should to wingtip. Females are mostly gray with some yellow to reddish coloring.
Diet & Habitat
Pine Grosbeak diets mostly consist of seed, supplemented by insects and buds. They also enjoy berries when given the opportunity. They usually travel in winter flock of around 4-10 birds. They prefer tops of trees, branch tips, and areas of good sun exposure.
During fall and winter months they can be spotted in spruce mixed deciduous (aspen/birch) forest.
In Dec 2011 John Vanderpoel and Isaac Helmericks spotted the first know sighting of Pine Grosbeak on Adak Island.
Breeding
Pine Grosbeak breed among the boreal forest and taiga, and Pacific coast in Alaska. They prefer to nest in spruce trees with nest often no higher than 10ft from the ground. The clutch often consists of 2-5, about 1 inch long, bluish-green eggs, entirely speckled in purple, brown and black. Females incubate the eggs for two weeks, two-three weeks later both parents take part in the rearing of chicks. While feeding the young both parents develop openings in the floor of their mouth, know as buccal pouches, allowing them to transport more food.
