Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) are an irruptive species attracted to back yards and bird feeders across North America.  An irruptive species is a bird species that sporadically and unpredictably occurs in areas that they normally occur, especially in winter presumably due to a lack of food on their normal wintering grounds. Other common irruptive species include Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Red Crosbill, White-winged Crosbill, Purple Finch, etc.

Evening Grosbeak Range Map (adapted from http://sdakotabirds.com)

Evening Grosbeak are large birds that are easily identifiable by their bright yellow colour and strong thick beak. Evening Grosbeaks prefer mixed conifer areas with both conifers and deciduous trees.

Evening Grosbeak eat seeds, berries, fruit, maple seeds, insects, and other invertebrates making them frequent visitors to  bird feeders. 

Nests consist of flattened saucers in trees or large shrubs. The nests are made of twigs, roots, lichens, grass, and/or pine needles.  Incubation is 12-14 days and when chicks hatch, they are precocial, meaning that they hatch with their eyes closed, are completely bald except for a thin fluffy down, and are completely dependent on their parents).