Whatbird.com

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

---

Mitch Waite

Observed a male on April 30th, 2008, in Norcross, GA, at a bird feeder about 8 feet from our kitchen window.  Its breast was indeed rose-red, almost iridescent, as opposed to the rufous color in the diagram.  The finch style beak was very strong, and when he turned his head as he ate the seed, the bottom of his beak was a perfect rectangle, like Dick Tracy's jaw !  

Observed both male and female since first week of May, 2008, in Central Indiana.  The male seems to come to the feeders more often than the female (could be that I simply don't notice the females as readily given their coloration).  They seem to prefer the open-style fly-through feeder with a mix of sunflower, safflower, shelled peanuts and pumpkin seeds.  Looking back on my photo records for date stamps, it looks like I see them here near Lafayette, Indiana, around the first of May, and see them regularly at the feeders until about mid June. 

I saw my first male rose-breasted grosbeak Sunday May 18.  It was very exciting!  I thought maybe they wouldn't be coming.  He was eating at a feeder with black oil sunflower seeds.  It was rather cold and rainy out.  So I think the birds were coming to the feeders for an easy meal.

---

The rose-breasted grosbeak is one of my favorite backyard birds.  We had our first ones arrive on May 9th.  The first few days there were several males and females were at my feeders at the same time.   Now only a few feed at a time.  I hope to see another favorite soon, the indigo bunting.

 

 

www.a-home-for-wild-birds.com/images/rose-breasted-grosbeak.jpg

I first saw this bird the first weekend of May 2007. It was there for one day, I got one shot and never saw him again. I wish he would visit again.

My first RB Grosbeak was seen the same day my father passed away (6/17/08).....

 

He was reincarnated into the Rose-breasted Grosbeak... so now everytime I see one, I think of my pops.

(^^^ My first ever sighting, and photo of a RB Grosbeak. 6/17/08)

 

I was obviously in a terrible mood that day, so I decided to hit up my favorite birding spot...about 3/4 to 1 mile into the mixed hardwood forest behind my house is a powerline cut that has grown over very nicely.....  there are huge oaks and maples bordering the cut, with one row of 6-7 small red cedars and a couple giant willow trees sprinkled in.  The path from my house leads to this cut, and up a rocky outcropping that is about 30' up and over looks the whole spot.  Inside the woods, Wood and Hermit Thrushes and Veerys sing ALL DAY LONG!!! 

I was sitting on the path right before it reaches the opening in the woods, feeling sorry for myself, when I heard the song..... sounds like a Robin with singing lessons (to steal a line from Peterson).....  the second I picked my head up from its position on the floor, I saw this beutiful bird looking back at me.  My camera was in my pack, and the bird stayed chillin while I unzipped, loaded the memory card, connected the zoom lens, and took a few shots.

 

It was an amazing experience.  I am NOT at all a religious, or even spiritual person.  I am a firm agnostic and need proof of everything.  While walking into the woods, I asked my father if I was going to see something new today.... sure enough, my pops helped me out.  When I saw that bird, everything stopped and I felt as if my dad was telling me, through the bird, that he is ok and will check up on me every spring migration!!

 

Here is a better shot I got some 5 days later....  This time, unlike last, there was a female and 4-5 males!!  It was such a cool thing to have so many gorgeous birds flying around me and going about their daily business without even caring that I was sitting 10 feet away....in awe....ans snapping photos like crazy.

---

*2008/Life Total* --> 233 species

Most recent -> (12/9) Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe

Highlights/Favs: Horned Puffin; Barnacle Goose; Calliope Hummingbird

Thanks for sharing MoJo

I would feel the same way you did. I totally agree nd love the pics. I have only seen one of these and I am trying my hardest to get him to come back. No luck yet, but I just bought peanuts just for him so we'll see.

My Grandmother passed away a few years ago and her fav. bird was the Mourning Dove. Everyday she would see one and they nested all in her trees and bird houses. They had babies and babies and she watched them daily. As soon as she died we never seen them again in the yard at her house. Still, 6 yrs later, nope, not a dove around her place. Weird huh?