Female Evening Grosbeaks (Male vs Female Identification)

Dusk Waxbill (Hesperiphona vespertina) are stunning birds with bright yellow and coal black markings. They are about the same size as a cardinal, but are thicker and have a conical bill. These songbirds are found throughout most of the United States and Canada. Depending on the season, you may be lucky enough to spot a pair at a feeder.

When it comes to identifying male and female evening jaybills, it’s pretty easy because each sex has different colored plumage.

Female nightingales are easily distinguished from males because they are not as brightly colored. Adult males are predominantly golden yellow and black. And women are mostly gray. The more subdued coloring of a female jaybill makes her less of a target for predators, which helps her keep her young safe.

Females are also generally less dominant than males and have different responsibilities in nest building and raising young. This article will discuss the characteristics that make female nightingales unique. Read on to discover more!

Female eastern waxbill perched on a branch

How can I tell if a twilight bird is male or female?

Female and male nightingales do not have sexual dimorphism, which means they are easy to tell apart because of the different colors of their plumage.

Females are predominantly grey-brown with a softer yellow on the upper back and flanks. Adult males, however, are bright yellow with black heads, upper backs, wings, and tails. Males also have distinct yellow stripes over their eyes.

Identifying an immature night waxbill as a male or female is not easy. All juveniles tend to be predominantly gray like females.

However, they can be distinguished from adult females without too much concern. Juveniles are fluffy, almost disheveled, while adults have smooth and well-preserved plumage.

Male Twilight Waxbeak

female evening waxbill

What does a female evening waxbill look like?

The female nightingale has a stocky, compact body with a large, conical beak. Their plumage is predominantly a soft grey-brown, with soft yellows on the ear coverts, upper back, and flanks. Occasionally a yellowish tinge may also appear on the buttocks.

The female’s wings and tail are black with distinct white patches. Her underbelly is usually a slightly lighter gray-brown to pale peach.

Close-up of a female yellow-billed wax-billed bird

Are female evening waxbills bigger than males?

Female night waxbills are no larger than males. Overall, males have slightly longer beaks, wings, and tails than females. Qualitatively, the size range of birds can vary by season and location. However, males are usually larger than females, even if the difference is insignificant.

A male (left) and female (right) perched twilight beak

behavioral difference

Feather color isn’t the only way to distinguish female and male nightingales. As you might expect, there are also marked behavioral differences between the sexes.

Unlike many other bird species, male and female nightingales show no differences in singing and calling. Both sexes seem to use the same vocalizations. However, the birds showed behavioral differences in other ways.

nesting and feeding

The female waxbill is the primary nest builder. They gather most of the nesting material, with the males following close behind, occasionally picking up sticks to assist the female in nest building.

After the nest is built and the eggs are laid, the females incubate for an average of 12 to 14 days. During this time, the male usually provides food to the female by regurgitation. He can also see the nest for most of the incubation period.

The incubation period begins immediately after the eggs hatch. This stage is also mainly in charge of the female night waxbill. Her mate will continue to bring food for her and the chicks. However, the female feeds her young more frequently than the male.

A flock of mixed male and female evening wax-billed birds foraging in a meadow

dominant behavior

Males exhibit more aggressive and dominant behavior compared to female nightingales. Adult males are often the initiators of dogfights for food and territory. They predominate in both adult females and juveniles of both sexes. Even immature males exert an advantage over adult females when it comes to food.

Can a female evening waxbill raise offspring alone?

It is possible for a female nightingale to rear her offspring, especially at a later stage — such as after the brooding period. At this point, the female doesn’t need to be in the den all the time, nor does she depend on the male to bring food for herself and her young.

On the other hand, if something happens to the male during the hatching or even the brooding phase, the females are less likely to win. Generally, females only leave the nest for about 10 minutes during the incubation period.

Any longer can result in egg loss. The absence of females also increases the likelihood of predation.

However, if the female is alone, she has no choice but to leave and find food for herself (and her pups once they hatch). Such an attempt may take more than 10 minutes. The longer she’s gone, the more vulnerable her chicks will be.

Female evening waxbill at a bird feeder

What color is the female evening waxbill?

Female night sparrows are predominantly gray to grey-brown with soft yellow on the upper back and flanks. Her wings and tail are black with distinct white patches. The underbelly is usually light gray to tan.

Can the female evening waxbill sing?

Female evening jaybills use a small number of vocalizations, usually associated with mating and nesting periods. Outside of the season, both sexes are quieter. Therefore, little is known about their calling behavior.

Do female evening waxbills sing?

Evening jays sing so little that it is difficult to say whether only males or females sing. Unfortunately, not much is known about the nocturnal song of the wax-billed bird because it is so uncommon.