Description: The blue grosbeak is a large finch-like bird, 15 - 19 cm
(6 - 7.5 in.) long. Male birds are almost entirely a deep, rich blue color with two rusty or tan wingbars, and with a thick conical bill. Females are warm brown in color with two tan wingbars, and occasionally blue feathers on its upperparts. Nesting season from May to August; clutch size 2 - 5 eggs; incubation 11 days; chicks fledge 13 days after hatching.
Diet: Opportunistic feeders; diet consists of insects (grasshoppers, cicadas, beetles) but also snails, grass seeds, and fruit. Blue grosbeaks tend to forage in openings adjacent to their habitat.
Habitat: Primarily found in riparian habitats, in thickets of willow (Salix sp.), young cottonwood (Populus sp.), arrow weed (Pluchea sericea), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), and salt cedar (Tamarix sp.); also along watercourses, grasslands, and croplands.
Range: Southern United States and into Mexico. In Clark County, Nevada, this species is found along the Virgin River, Muddy River, and Colorado River system, and the Las Vegas Wash. Nest in Southern Nevada.
Comments: Until recently this species was known as Guiraca caerulea.