Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) [XC467032]
by Lance A. M. Benner from Morgan Road, near Hixon, Cariboo, British Columbia, Canada (?)
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) [XC774841]
by Andrew Spencer from Portal, Arizona, United States (?)
Subspecies
Geographical variation slight. Other proposed subspecies in USA are relatively somewhat shorter-billed californica (described from Crane Flat, in Yosemite National Park, in east California) and narrow-billed warreni (from Bear Creek, near Colorado Springs, in central Colorado), both a little paler than, but synonymized with, brooksi. However, some vocal differences apparent and further research required.
In Mexico, proposed subspecies mexicana (from Las Vigas, in Veracruz), is considered inseparable from montana.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
brooksi Grinnell, 1917 - Breeds western Canada (eastern and southern British Columbia) and western USA (south to north-western and east-central California, and from western Montana and western Wyoming south to central Colorado, also central Arizona and central-southern New Mexico). Winters to south-western USA (southern California east to south-western Texas).
vespertina (Cooper, W, 1825) - Breeds central and eastern Canada (Alberta east to southern Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and north-eastern USA (Maine). Winters throughout central and eastern USA south to Texas and northern Florida.
montana Ridgway, 1874 - Extreme south-western USA (south-eastern Arizona) and interior western and southern Mexico (Sierra Madre Occidental south to Michoacan; Hidalgo south to northern Oaxaca).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet