Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) [XC324996]
by Vicki Dern from Changing Canyon Trail, Elko County, Nevada, United States (song)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) [XC624588]
by Thomas Magarian from 2310 North Wygant Street, North Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States (call)
Subspecies
In the past, this species and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) sometimes placed in a separate genus, Hedymeles. The two have been thought to form a superspecies, and frequently considered conspecific. They hybridize in overlap zone east of Rocky Mts.
Proposed subspecies rostratus (Nuevo León, in north-eastern Mexico) included within nominate.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
maculatus (Audubon, 1837) - Breeds along Pacific coast from south-western Canada (south-western British Columbia southern from c. 53º north, also southern Vancouver I) southern in western USA to California and to extreme north-western Mexico (to c. 30º northern in Baja California). Winters southern Baja California and mainland Mexico.
melanocephalus Swainson, 1827 - Breeds from south-western Canada (south-eastern British Columbia, southern Alberta and south-western Saskatchewan) and west-central USA (north-western North Dakota, south through Rocky Mts and western Great Plains) south through Mexican highlands to Oaxaca. Winters within Mexican breeding range.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet