A Grosbeak adventure

A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a beautiful thing. When a family arrived a few weeks ago, there was great cause for excitement. First seen was the male, then the female, who was a slightly duller bird then her partner. She had a streaked belly, a bold white stripe above her eye, and a yellowish breast. Of course, she was quite large, and the same size as the male, who was about as big as an American Robin. They started feeding at the feeder, then disappearing. A few days later, a juvenile started coming with them. It begged every time the adults found food, by calling a Nuthatch like call and flapping its wing several times second. They continued to come to the feeder, and whenever a Grosbeak was in the tree, it seemed to frighten all the other birds away, including the ever constant supply of Goldfinches. It would feed with the other birds that stayed at the feeder, such as Purple finches and Chipping Sparrows.
Unfortunately, the pair and the juvenile disappeared after a few days, and I haven't seen them since.

Posted on August 18, 2022 07:36 PM by penelope-anne