Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Male vs Female Identification)

Rose-breasted waxbill (Grouper) is a striking songbird in the cardinal family. Each year, North American birders welcome the birds back to the northeastern United States and Canada, although identifying females can present challenges.

So what do female rose-breasted waxbills look like, and how do they differ from males?

Compared with their showy male counterparts, female rose-breasted wax-billed parrots appear drab. However, their thick beaks, bold white eyebrows (eyebrow stripes), and lightly striped underparts are good markings in the wild. Females are also wonderful songbirds, producing a rich, robin-like song.

Rose-breasted waxbills are summer migratory birds that can be seen in the southern and eastern United States migrating to breeding grounds in the Midwest and Northeast. Females arrive slightly later than males, and they work together to care for their three to five spotted eggs.

There is still a lot to learn about the female rose-breasted waxbill. Read on as we unravel the identities and behaviors of these melodious immigrants.

Close-up of a female rose-breasted wax-billed bird perched on a branch

How do you know if a rose-breasted waxbill is male or female?

Female rose-breasted waxbills exhibit several different behaviors when it comes to feeding, nesting, and migration. However, plumage color is the most definite difference between the sexes. Females have soft natural colors that aid in camouflage, while males have brightly colored plumage.

Adult males are a striking bird. His black head and upper body contrast with the white lower body, wing bars and large white beak. The final clue was his scarlet chest, which narrowed to a point or point on his abdomen.

Read on for a more detailed description of the female rose-breasted waxbill.

female rose-breasted waxbill

Male rose-breasted waxbill

What does a female rose-breasted waxbill look like?

The female rose-breasted waxbill is a medium-sized songbird, darker above than below. A closer look reveals an oversized conical beak and distinctive white markings on the head and wings.

The female’s dark brown/black crown is topped by a thin pale yellow stripe. This dark cap is bounded by a white brow (brow stripe) that extends from the nape of the neck to the base of the beak.

The pinnae (ear cups) and sides of the neck are lighter than the crest and are bordered by another white stripe extending from the chin and throat. Their protruding beak is pink and almost as long as it is.

The large, seed-crushing beak is reminiscent of the northern cardinal, another beautiful American songbird from the same family.

They are white or pale yellow underneath with short, dark stripes. These stripes are also evident on the upper back, but the wings are darker. Each wing has two white stripes and a small black feather.

Look for the following characteristics when identifying a female rose-breasted waxbill:

• A thick pink banknote
• White brow stripes and wing bars
• Darker color on upper body, stripes on lower body

The female rose-breasted waxbill is predominantly brown and white

similar species

In the United States, the female rose-breasted wax-billed is most likely to be confused with the female black-headed wax-billed (P. melanocephalus). The underparts of the female rose-breasted jaybill are more striped and whiter. Female black-headed waxbills have pale yellow eyebrows and pale yellow/tan underparts. The top half of her bill also appeared darker.

The following other birds may also be confused at a distance:

• purple finch
• juvenile red crossbird

female and teenage male

The sex of rose-breasted waxbills can be identified from an early age. Juvenile females have orange or yellowish feathers on the underside of their wings, while males have red or pink feathers under their wings.

Close-up portrait of a female rose-breasted wax-billed bird

Are female rose-breasted waxbills bigger than males?

Males and females are very similar in size, although males are slightly larger on average. However, the difference is too small to be noticed in the field.

rose-breasted waxbill size

• length: Both males and females are about 7 – 8 inches (17.5 – 20 cm) long
• span: Their wingspan is about 12.5 inches (32 cm)
• Lots of: Most adults weigh 1.4 – 1.7 oz (39 – 49 g)

Male (left) and female (right) rosebreasted waxbill pairs during migration

behavioral difference

Visible differences are the easiest way to tell male and female rose-breasted jays apart. However, observing their behavior can highlight some interesting differences between the sexes. Read on to learn how female rose-breasted jaybeaks behave differently from males.

migrant

Male rose-breasted waxbills migrate a little earlier in spring than females. Birders may spot males three to five days before the first females arrive. This head start gives the males time to establish nesting sites ahead of time.

However, at the start of autumn migration, both sexes leave at about the same time. They will travel south to spend the winter in the forests and woodlands of Central America, northwestern South America, and the Caribbean islands.

Female rose-breasted waxbill perched on the edge of the woods

foraging

There’s a good reason rose-breasted waxbills have huge beaks—they’re perfect for crushing seeds. However, the diet of these birds is varied, including fruit and insects. Interestingly, the sexes have slightly different feeding strategies.

Female rose-breasted waxbills tend to forage for food in higher trees than males, which may help limit competition for food resources. Females also tend to hunt for insects on leaf surfaces, usually while hovering. Males forage for food on twigs, twigs, and trunks.

aggression

Physical conflict occurs in both sexes, although males are more aggressive. In fact, males interact with potential mates by chasing them off in the first place! Females are most likely to attack other invading females, while males will attack both males and females.

Female rose-breasted waxbill eating seeds from a bird feeder

sing and call

Rose-breasted jays are versatile singers. Their voice is often described as similar to that of American Robin – only better! Females typically sing during nesting activities such as nest building, sitting on eggs, or brooding chicks.

In addition to the beautiful song, both sexes produce a range of other sounds. Their most common call is a metallic “clink,” made before or between songs.

Female red-breasted waxbill looking forward

nesting and feeding

The rose-breasted waxbill breeds in a variety of habitats in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States, as well as Canada. They are monogamous during the breeding season and share nesting duties to a large extent.

Site Selection & Nesting

Both sexes seek out suitable nesting sites and build nests together. Construction is usually complete in about a week, and the nest consists of a small cup of loose plant material.

brood hatching

Typically, only the female Rose-breasted Waxbill forms a brood area, and she does about 80 percent of the hatching. Males also sit on the eggs, but their shifts are limited to a few hours during the day. The eggs hatch after 11 to 14 days and the chicks are hatched fairly equally by both parents.

feed

Both parents feed the chicks, but in one study, the females brought home about 75 percent of the food. Rose-breasted waxbills feed their chicks primarily on insects that they crush with their powerful beaks.

Successful pairs may have a second brood during the breeding season. However, time constraints mean they need to strategize, meaning the males need to take on additional feeding duties while the females start building new nests.

Male and female rose-breasted waxbills in a courtship ceremony

Can a female red-breasted waxbill raise offspring alone?

Both male and female rose-breasted waxbills are involved in nearly every aspect of raising their young. Women are less likely to succeed alone.

What color is the female rose-breasted waxbill?

The female rose-breasted waxbill is not a particularly brightly colored bird. They appear brownish in color, although their plumage consists of a variety of shades, including black, brown, and white.

Female rose-breasted waxbill perched on a budding tree in spring

Can a female rose-breasted waxbill sing?

Female rose-breasted jaybills make a variety of calls when excited, agitated, or panicked. Their most common call is the squeaky “clink” sound, but they can also make a harsher rattling sound.

Can a female rose-breasted waxbill sing?

The female rose-breasted waxbill has one of the most beautiful songs of any American songbird. Interestingly, they tend to sing while nesting, although their songs may attract the attention of predators and enemies.

Female rose-breasted waxbill and female purplish finch

Female rose-breasted waxbills are easily confused with female purple finches. However, some noticeable differences in size and plumage can help birders tell the two apart.

Body and Bill Size

The rose-breasted jaybill is the larger of the two species, often weighing twice as much as the purple finch. Their bills are also much larger than purple finches, although similar in shape, and are pink rather than brown.

Face and Wing Markers

The eyebrows (brow fringe) extend from the nape of the neck to the base of the beak of the female waxbill, but only from the nape of the neck to the eyes of the female purplish finch. Female purplish finches also lack the distinctive white wing spots of female rose-breasted waxbills.

female rose-breasted waxbill

purple finch