Bird

Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea

A summer resident that nests in Alabama. Found in all 67 counties, across 17 habitats.

Here: Summer
Nesting: Nests here
Range: All 67 counties
Habitats: 17

Male Blue Grosbeak, whole bird — **Male**. (c) Brooke Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY). CC BY. iNaturalist photo 80154262. iNaturalist large derivative; no local crop or retouch.

At a glance

Group: Birds
Here: Summer
Nesting: Nests here
Range: All 67 counties
Habitats: 17
Habitat models: Summer

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in Alabama 17

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 17

SummerSouthern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock; Southern Coastal Plain Hydric HammockWinslow Homer, In the Jungle, Florida (1904): cabbage palms, saw palmetto and fallen trunks in a dense, shady hammock, with a wildcat in the branches. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Florida (Winslow Homer, In the Jungle, Florida, 1904), a neighboring state.In the Jungle, Florida, Winslow Homer, 1904. Public domain. Source record.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine FlatwoodsGeorge Inness, Georgia Pines (1890): tall, straight pines over an open, grassy floor in a south Georgia pine woods. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Georgia pine woods (George Inness, 1890; site not named), a neighboring state.Georgia Pines, George Inness (1825-1894), 1890. Public domain. Source record.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet PrairieGeorge Catlin, Beautiful Savannah in the Pine Woods of Florida (1834-35): an open grassy savanna with a shallow pond, ringed by tall pines, with palmettos and red wildflowers. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Pine woods of Florida (George Catlin, 1834-35; Smithsonian American Art Museum), a neighboring state.Beautiful Savannah in the Pine Woods of Florida, George Catlin, 1834-1835. Public domain. Source record.

SummerCentral Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and RiparianWinslow Homer, Blue Spring, Florida (1890): clear blue spring water under overhanging palms. Shown: Blue Spring, Florida (Winslow Homer, 1890; National Gallery of Art), a neighboring state.Blue Spring, Florida, Winslow Homer, 1890. Public domain. Source record.

SummerSouthern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier; Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall; East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp; Central Interior and Appalachian Swamp Systems; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp; Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome; Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression SwampFlorida, Sunset on the Ocklawaha (1899): a dark swamp-lined river at sunset, with cypress and hardwoods crowding both banks. Shown: Ocklawaha River, Florida, a neighboring state.Florida, Sunset on the Ocklawaha, Detroit Photographic Co. (chromolithograph), 1899. Public domain. Source record.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood; Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier; Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland; Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest; Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest; Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier; Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems; Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian; East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest; Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain

Forest edges and thickets

Borders of forests, clearings and shrubby thickets.

SummerDisturbed/Successional - Shrub Regeneration; Successional Shrub/Scrub (Other); Harvested Forest - Shrub Regeneration

Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone

Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.

SummerRidge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland; Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens

Granite and other acidic rock outcrops

Bare or thin-soil rock on granite, gneiss, sandstone, quartzite and similar acidic rock, including granite flatrocks and domes.

SummerCumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens

Hardwood and oak flatwoods

Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods; South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods

Maritime forests and thickets

Salt-pruned forests and shrub thickets behind coastal dunes.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest; Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

SummerSouthern Piedmont Mesic Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest; East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest

Prairies and grasslands

Open, grass-dominated places kept open by fire, grazing or thin soil, from tallgrass prairie to Piedmont prairies.

SummerEast Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Herbaceous Modifier; East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Prairie and Woodland

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

SummerCultivated Cropland; Pasture/Hay; Disturbed/Successional - Grass/Forb Regeneration; Utility Swath - Herbaceous; Disturbed, Non-specific; Ruderal Upland - Old Field

Tree plantations and managed pine

Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.

SummerDeciduous Plantation; Evergreen Plantation or Managed Pine; Managed Tree Plantation

Other habitats in its models (138)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Alabama. Those recorded in Alabama first, the rest by region.

In Alabama 1

Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Summer.

Elsewhere in the South (67)

Appalachian Shale Barrens Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Summer.
Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer.
Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest Summer.
Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer.
Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer.
Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Summer.
Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Summer.
Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Summer.
East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Summer.
East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Summer.
East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Summer.
Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Summer.
Florida Dry Prairie Summer.
Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Summer.
Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Summer.
Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Summer.
Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Summer.
Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Summer.
Mississippi River Riparian Forest Summer.
Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Summer.
Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Summer.
Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Summer.
Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Summer.
Red River Large Floodplain Forest Summer.
South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Flatwoods Summer.
Southeastern Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie Summer.
Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest Summer.
Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest Summer.
Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald Summer.
Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland Summer.
Southern Blackland Tallgrass Prairie Summer.
Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Summer.
Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Nepheline Syenite Glade Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Calcareous Prairie Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Calcareous Prairie Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Summer.
West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer.
Western Great Plains Mesquite Woodland and Shrubland Summer.

Northeast (9)

Appalachian Hemlock-Hardwood Forest Summer.
Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer.
Central Appalachian Oak and Pine Forest Summer.
Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland Summer.
North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer.
Northeastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Summer.
Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Summer.
Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Summer.
Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Summer.

Midwest (10)

Central Mixedgrass Prairie Summer.
Central Tallgrass Prairie Summer.
North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Summer.
North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Summer.
North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Summer.
North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Summer.
North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Summer.
North-Central Interior Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairie Summer.
North-Central Oak Barrens Summer.
Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Summer.

Land cover and other classes (51)

Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Summer.
Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Summer.
Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Summer.
Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier Summer.
Developed, Low Intensity Summer, beside its main habitat.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Summer.
East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Summer.
Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer.
Eastern Great Plains Wet Meadow, Prairie, and Marsh Summer.
Eastern Highland Rim Prairie and Barrens - Dry Modifier Summer.
Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Summer.
Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer.
Harvested Forest - Grass/Forb Regeneration Summer.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Annual Grassland Summer.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Forbland Summer.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland Summer.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland and Forbland Summer.
Introduced Upland Vegetation - Treed Summer.
Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Summer.
Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer.
Modified/Managed Southern Tall Grassland Summer.
Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Summer.
Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Summer.
Recently Logged Areas Summer.
Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric Summer.
Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Herbaceous Modifier Summer.
Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Summer.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Summer.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Summer.
Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Summer.
Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Summer.
Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer.

All habitats

Seasons in Alabama

Summer: nests here, in all 67 counties.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in Alabama, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Blue Grosbeak uses many habitats in Alabama; these are its 3 most characteristic.