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Unlike many birds, the rose-breasted grosbeak flies with purpose, not of nervousness. Its craving from potato-bugs makes it a valuable bird. Ralph LaPlant Photo

At my bird feeder were the usual species. I saw purple and goldfinches, blue jays, chickadees, nuthatches, downy and hairy woodpeckers, and sparrows.  All of a sudden I saw a brilliant flash of white and black and observed a red patch on the breast of a bird a little smaller than a robin. I was pleased to see this addition to the “crowd,” a rose-breasted grosbeak, and within a few days I saw his mate.
    
These birds arrive at their breeding grounds in late April through early June. Not usually seen in flocks, they will often be observed by themselves or in pairs. In Minnesota, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks are considered a regular resident that migrates to the area, staying the summer. This area includes the whole state where the heaviest concentrations are the Mississippi and Minnesota River Valleys.  
    
Once the females arrive, which is usually a few days after the males, he will chase her and if they become solidly paired, they will occupy their nesting territory, which is two to three acres.
    
As soon as a week after the female arrives, nest building can start. Either or both grosbeaks build the nest, which is located in dense foliage in a bush or tree near a fork. Varying 5 to 25 feet above the ground, it is built of leaves, horsehair, and twigs of varying sizes. With an inside diameter of 3 ½ inches, it is 2 inches deep. Taking two to three days to build, it is so loosely built that you can often see light through it.                                                                                                                                                                                            

With an average number of four eggs being laid, the first may be laid before the nest in completed. The incubation of the light blue with brown spotted eggs is done by both male and female for about two weeks. During incubation, the parents will rotate the eggs with their beaks.
    
There can be a second brood. If this is the case, the female will leave the first from time to time to build her second nest. The male will assume full responsibilities during this time for the first brood.
    
In about 12 days the young are able to leave the nest and soon will be able to fly short distances. In time, the parents are very forceful in the feeding of their young, jabbing the food down their throats. Eventually their parents chase the young and they get the hint to be on their own.
    
With a diet of insects and vegetables, the rose-breasted grosbeak deserves more praise than condemnation. It is accused of eating buds and blossoms in orchards, as well as devouring crops of green peas. What outweighs this is the fact that it devours Colorado potato bugs. It is almost the only species of bird to do so, eating not only the adult bugs, but the larvae as well, feeding them to their young.
It has been written that this bird does not fly just for the sake of flying. When it flies it has a purpose, unlike many birds that fly as a nervous gesture.

Around September, rose-breasted grosbeaks migrate to the West Indies, Mexico, and Peru. Rarely are they seen during winter in Minnesota.