Yesterday, I could have sworn a Black-headed Grosbeak flew across the yard...but it was a blur. Today, I identified the pretty thing...another FOS! Last year they must have nested nearby; I watched nearly full-grown youngsters beg for feeding at the feeders. Sweet!And while watching the tiny little Lazuli Bunting feed, I looked up to see several other big-beaked birds; Evening Grosbeaks. Have you ever listened to them? To my ears they sound like chicks; they peep! I love to listen to them; they're one of the few birds I can identify by sound.
Photo from Wikipedia; more photos here
Monthly list of backyard birds seen in April 2009:
Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Cooper's Hawk, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cassin's Finch, Common Grackle, Turkey Vulture, Evening Grosbeak, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Common Raven, European Starling, Northern Flicker - Red-shafted, Downy Woodpecker, Black-headed Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco - Oregon, Pink-sided, Slate and Gray-headed, House Finch - red, yellow and orange variants, Eurasian Collared-Dove
5 comments:
What a beautiful bird. I have never seen one.
www.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com
as a bird bander, the first thing that went through my mind when I saw your grosbeak was "ow"
none of them here in the Alps though, so my fingers are safe ;-)
Happy birding
Dale
http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com
That's really incredible! You hit the Grosbeak trifecta!
I have a black headed grosbeak at my feeder daily. What a beauty.
I am somewhat new to birding, so have I correctly identified Audubon's Warbler at the Wahatoya and Daigre Wildlife Areas here in La Veta? There seem to be alot.
I do not know of an "Audubon Warbler"...but the "Yellow-rumped Warbler" has two distinct populations: The Myrtle (males have a dark cheek and pale throat) and the Audubon (males with bright yellow throat and paler cheek). I've had them in my yard here in town...I love that folks call them (both) 'butter-butts' for the bright yellow color low on their backs, just above the tail. Lovely! I've also seen them along the road out by the town lakes.
Ain't spring grand? I love the chance to see all the migratory birds that fly through.
Why not send me a note (goldiloucks at yahoo); perhaps we can meet and I can include you when the few of us birders here in La Veta get together...
Beverly
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