Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Evening Grosbeak formerly visited Louisiana statewide as an irruptives species, occasionally in large numbers. The species was added to the state list in 1996 after a prolonged period without winter Evening Grosbeak flights.

Accepted Records

Evening Grosbeak was added to the Review List on 7 September 1996 but the LBRC had never reviewed any records that pre-dated that addition. The LSUMNS study skin records are the first reviewed. Additional LSUMNS fluid-preserved (two from 1984) and skeletal (six: three from 1969, one from 1970, two without dates likely are from invasion years 1972 and 1984) preps were not included in this initial review. Another fluid-preserved prep from 12 January 1969 was exchanged with another museum (deaccessioned).

One male (1962-010) on 14 January 1962, Ouachita: West Monroe; James B. Avant (LSUMZ 27673)

One female (1962-011) on 15 April 1962, Natchitoches: Natchitoches; Douglas A. Lancaster (LSUMZ 27799) and Harold Cleveland (HC 180).

One male (1969-007) on 23 January 1969, Livingston: Denham Springs; John P. O'Neill (JPO 3414; LSUMZ 64959).

One female (1969-008) on 23 January 1969, Livingston: Denham Springs; John P. O'Neill (JPO 3413; LSUMZ 64960).

One female (1969-009) on 23 January 1969, Livingston: Denham Springs; David L. Pearson (LSUMZ 64961).

One male (1972-016) on 10 December 1972, Washington: Varnado; Wilby Seal (LSUMZ 72119) and P. Bruner (PB 545).

One female (1972-017) on 10 December 1972, Avoyelles: 1.5 mi. S Mansura; Joseph Lemoine (LSUMZ 155685) and Louis Debetaz (LB 12).

One female (1973-014) on 10 February 1973, Pointe Coupee: False River; P. Bruner (LSUMZ 73349, PB 600).

One male (1978-036) on 23 March 1978, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge, 655 Ursuline Dr.; J. William Eley (LSUMZ 73349, JWE 623).

One male (1984-068) on 13 February 1984, West Feliciana: 3.7 mi ENE Star Hill; J. Gary H. Rosenberg (LSUMZ 117781, GHR 1949).

One female (1984-069) on 1 March 1984, East Baton Rouge: Greenwell Springs Rd.; J. T. Fairchild (LSUMZ 118898) and Nedra K. Klein (NKK 37).

One female (1984-070) on 8 April 1984, East Baton Rouge: Greenwell Springs Rd. near Hooper Rd.; J. T. Fairchild (LSUMZ 118898) and Tristan J. Davis (TJD 3307).

One female (1984-071) on 10 April 1984, East Baton Rouge: Greenwell Springs Rd. near Hooper Rd.; J. T. Fairchild (LSUMZ 117783) and Tristan J. Davis (TJD 3330).

One female (1986-01) on 8 April 1986, East Baton Rouge: intersection of Greenwell Springs Rd. and Hooper Rd.; J. T. Fairchild (LSUMZ 117783) and Tristan J. Davis (TJD 3330).

One male (1986-075) on 19 February 1986, East Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge; Steven W. Cardiff (LSUMZ 134183; skeletal prep and spread wing; SWC 4034).

Unaccepted Records

One heard and recorded (2020-069) on 23 December 2020, Lafayette: Lafayette, Adrienne x Pauline streets, N30.23143, W92.03417. This interesting record is supported by a recording of an unseen bird flying over the observer. Members were mixed in their opinion of whether the call represented another species, or that the documentation was simply insufficient for confirming an Evening Grosbeak.

Two males and a female-type (2021-007) on 3 January 2021, Orleans: New Orleans, UNO campus. This record received a split vote with one vote tipping the scale to non-acceptance. Those voting not to accept all believed that the observer may have been correct but were reluctant to accept such a brief fly-by observation given that there were no other well-documented occurrences in Louisiana during winter 2020-2021, and the last irruption year to the southeastern US was 35 years ago during winter 1985-1986.