Both males and females sing: Female Black-headed Grosbeaks sing, especially while nesting—very uncommon in North American songbirds!

They can eat monarch butterflies: Thanks to an unusual tolerance to the toxic compounds in monarch butterflies, grosbeaks are one of the few predators that can safely consume them.

Hybrid zone: In the Great Plains, Black-headed Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks can interbreed where their ranges overlap, producing hybrids.

Strong beaks for hard shells: Their powerful beak can crack cherry pits and other hard seeds.

Molting mid-migration: Black-headed Grosbeaks may begin their fall molt while migrating south—a risky but efficient strategy to prepare for winter.