The Evening Grosbeak, the largest finch species of the northern boreal and montane conifer forests, has an intriguing history behind its population numbers and distribution across North America.

The original range of evening grosbeaks was in the coniferous forests of western North America. ... The first record of evening grosbeak in Maine was an incursion in the winter of 1889-1890.

In my last column, I described the ongoing “winter finch” irruption and wistfully suggested that the charismatic evening grosbeak might soon show up. It was a purely aspirational musing… ...

The evening grosbeak’s stronghold is in western Canada and the western U.S. mountains. ... I have my doubts that box-elder plantings triggered the large-scale range extension.

But they expanded their breeding range across Canada to the Maritime Provinces and New England. As a result, they began to make winter incursions into Ohio and adjacent states about 1910.

It looks like it’s finally going to be a grosbeak winter. Back in early November I read forecasts that evening grosbeaks would head south in impressive numbers this winter.