General Information
- Large, conical, pale bill

Adult male
- Rosy-red, triangular breast patch
- Black head and upperparts
- White underparts
- White patches in wing
- White spots in black tail
- Rosy-red wing linings
- Male in Fall and Winter is duller, browner
- Immature male similar to adult male in Fall and Winter    but duller

Adult female
- Black and white crown stripes
- White underparts with extensive streaking
- Dark gray upperparts
- Yellow to yellowish-orange wing linings
- Immature female similar to adult female
- Juvenile has buffy breast

Similar species
Female-plumaged Black-headed Grosbeak is very similar to female-plumaged Rose-breasted Grosbeak but has buffier breast and has streaking confined to the sides.