Collared grosbeak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collared grosbeak |
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| Male | |
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| Female | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Mycerobas |
| Species: |
M. affinis
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| Binomial name | |
| Mycerobas affinis (Blyth, 1855)
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The collared grosbeak (Mycerobas affinis) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the finch family, called Fringillidae. These birds live in the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, mostly in the amazing Himalayas mountains. You can find them in countries like Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. They love living in mountain forests with lots of different kinds of trees.
Contents
Description
What Does It Look Like?
The collared grosbeak is one of the biggest birds in the finch family! It can grow to be about 22 to 24 cm (8.7 to 9.4 in) long. Males usually weigh around 69 to 72 g (2.4 to 2.5 oz), while females can be a bit heavier, about 83 g (2.9 oz).
Adult male collared grosbeaks have shiny black feathers on their head, the top of their wings, and their tail. Around their neck, they have a brownish collar. The rest of their body is a bright, deep yellow.
Female collared grosbeaks look different. They are olive-green on their back and yellowish underneath. They do not have the black face like the males. Young birds look quite similar to the adult females.
What Sounds Does It Make?
When this bird flies, it makes a soft but quick call that sounds like Pip-pip-pip-pip-uh. If it senses danger, it might make a sharp alarm call, kurr. The male bird sings a clear, loud, and rising whistle with five or six notes. Sometimes, during arguments, grosbeaks might make a creaky groaning sound.
Where Does It Live and What Does It Do?
Its Home and Travel
The collared grosbeak can be found in different numbers across its home range, from being quite common to a bit rare. During the summer, it lives and raises its young high up in the mountains, between 2,700 to 4,200 m (8,900 to 13,800 ft) high.
When winter comes, these birds move to lower areas. This is called altitudinal movement. They might travel down to 1,800 m (5,900 ft) or even as low as 1,060 m (3,480 ft). They like to live in forests that have a mix of different trees, like maple, oak, or rhododendron. In the summer, they can also be found in areas above the tree line, where there are small juniper bushes.
How It Behaves
Collared grosbeaks usually perch in pairs or small groups near the tops of tall trees. However, they often look for food in lower bushes or even on the ground. When they fly, they stay close together in a fast, straight, and sometimes wavy pattern. We don't know much about how they raise their young.
What Does It Eat?
These birds eat many different things. They love various seeds and pine cones. They also eat buds, young plant shoots, and nuts. They enjoy fruits, including crab apples. They use their strong bill to pluck these tough plants. Sometimes, they also eat insects, especially caterpillars, and even snails.
Images for kids
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John Gould's illustration of the collared grosbeak.
 | Frances Mary Albrier |
 | Whitney Young |
 | Muhammad Ali |
