Yellow Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysopeplus Scientific name definitions

Endemic to the western (Pacific) slope of Middle America, the Yellow Grosbeak is an easily identified bird; both sexes possess a relatively massive and all-dark bill. Males are principally black and yellow birds, with bold white markings over the largely black wings and tail, whilst females are less strikingly patterned, with dusky markings over the head and upperparts, but retain some, reduced, white wing markings. The species possesses a disjunct range, with separate Mexican and southern Mexican / Guatemalan populations and subspecies, with the male of the latter being more orange over the head and underparts. Like this species’ counterpart, the Golden-bellied Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster), this species is found in scrubby woodland and other semi-open areas, including rather arid regions.

21·5–24 cm; one female 77·6 g. Male nominate race has crown and nape to centre of mantle deep yellow, side of mantle black (fresh feathers having narrow yellow edgings), back and rump bright yellow with some diffuse darker mottling, uppertail-coverts black with broad white tips; shoulder and upperwing black, broad white tips on greater and median secondary coverts and on tips of outer webs of secondaries and tertials; base of primaries white (conspicuous white flash on closed wing); rectrices black, three outermost with extensive white on inner webs; side of face and chest deep yellow, some black spotting on sides (variable, and often concealed), rest of underparts yellow, thigh dull black, undertail-coverts white; iris dark brown; upper mandible blackish, lower mandible pinkish-flesh to bluish-grey with dusky along distal half of cutting edge; legs bluish-grey. Female is much duller than male, crown and nape heavily streaked blackish, shoulder blackish-brown with dull yellowish edgings, white on wing as in male but generally somewhat reduced in extent; white on tail much reduced and tinged with brownish. Juvenile resembles female; immature male similar to adult female, but head yellower, conspicuous white flash at base of primaries; takes two years to gain full plumage. Race dilutus is similar to nominate, but concealed bases of rump feathers black, mantle predominantly black with yellow flammulations, female much greyer and duller, more heavily streaked above, paler yellow below, flanks streaked dusky; <em>aurantiacus</em> is much more orange-yellow, bases of rump feathers black.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

In Mexico, seen to take fruit of Ficus pertusa, Trichostigma octandrum (Phytolaccaceae) and, more rarely, Recchia mexicana (Surianaceae) in Jalisco, and to take nectar from Erythrina oliviae in Puebla. Forages singly and in pairs, often in fruiting trees; only rarely joins mixed flocks.

Song a series of rich, clear whistles, “chee wee chee-r weer weeuh” and so on, similar to that of P. melanocephalus but slower and more simple. Calls include sharp metallic “plihk” and a soft whistle, “hoee”, given in flight.