Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus
The Evening Grosbeak is a stocky bird of the Finch family. The species breeds in mature to old conifer and mixed-wood forests across the boreal forest and western montaine areas in North America. It breeds in all provinces and territories except Nunavut and winters throughout most of the breeding range in Canada. It is well known for its fall and winter irruptions when it can be found in large numbers. Population estimates from 3.8 to 16 million individuals differ between sources. Over half breed in Canada. Long-term trends based on the Breeding Bird Survey indicate an 82% decline in Canada since 1970 while Christmas Bird Count data indicate an 87% decline over a similar time period. The species was assessed as Special Concern in 2016 and listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act in 2019. It is protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act in Canada
The causes for the decline in the Evening Grosbeak population are unclear. Threats identified include forest harvesting, and collisions with windows and also vehicles, as Evening Grosbeaks like to rest on gravel roads. Threats with unknown impacts on the population that could potentially be important drivers of decline include other ecosystem modifications such as Spruce Budworm control, invasive and other problematic species like diseases, and road salts and other pollutants.