Rose-breasted Grosbeak, transitional male (Sept. 2010)


I call this a "transitional" male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, doesn't have all the adult plumage yet.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male in flight (June '09)




Click thumbnail to see larger picture. Click larger picture to cycle through the shots.
I don't claim that these are in sequence resembling actual flight.
Also, I doubt these are all the same individual, we've had up to four adult males at the same time lately.

June 10, '09. A young male perhaps? Compare eyebrow to female (below)

Until I get a better shot, the feeder composite-shot gives a clue to underwing colour. Also you can compare size to House Finch. I eagerly look forward to changes over the coming days, perhaps the camera will catch some of it. A few years back I saw one that looked half male and half female, very striking in its unusual combination of blacks, whites and browns.

April 25, '09. Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak ... or it could be a male immature.





G's recording of the Grosbeak's lovely song.     (There's a newer/better recording, details on this page).
This coincided with my confirmed sighting (catalpa tree as I recall). Probably May 2009, Paris Twp. Ohio.
I fumbled with my not-very-good handheld cassette recorder just before he flew further off, sorry about the noise.



December Mystery Bird     Red Shouldered Hawk    Waxwings '09    My Rock Collection

Woodpeckers    Bird Songs     Circle of Fifths page    My Picasa page    People Songs


This page updated 9/11/2010 by G.Ridout