Black-headed Grosbeak Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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California, May 18, 1988Recorded by Thomas G. Sander / Macaulay Library
Song
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California, June 05, 1990Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Song
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Oaxaca, March 29, 2019Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Song
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Oaxaca, April 03, 2013Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Calls
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California, July 28, 2019Recorded by Bruce Rideout / Macaulay Library
Female calls
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Colorado, July 13, 2007Recorded by Andrew Spencer / Macaulay Library
Flight calls
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Arizona, May 15, 1961Recorded by Robert C. Stein / 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.