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Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina)
Photo Coutesy of oiseaux.hobby-site.com

Length: 7-8 in.
Habitat: coniferous forests; other forests and at feeders (migration, winter).

The name evening grosbeak was given this species by an observer who heard a flock at twilight, at a site northwest of Lake Superior. At that time—1823—the Evening Grosbeak was a western species; since then, it has spread far to the east. One hypothesis is that feeding trays loaded with sunflower seeds may have played a part in this expansion, but reports show that grosbeaks regularly pass up such offerings in favor of boxelder seeds and other wild food.