Evening Grosbeaks Return

I enjoyed multiple visits from a pair of Evening Grosbeaks today.  Here they are sharing the tray feeder with a Chipping Sparrow.

Click on images to enlarge

Like the finches they are, they were flocking with the American Goldfinches and Purple Finches.  I saw four of them - 2 males and 2 females - but only 2 visited the feeder at any one time.

These are big, beautiful birds.  To look at them through the scope or binoculars was a real treat on what turned into a dreary foggy day.  I never noticed before that their large, seed-crushing bill is a very pale green.  You discover all kinds of things when you really take time to observe!

Their call is a sharp chirp.  Click on the play arrow on the controller below to listen to their loud, clear call coming through.  I recorded this earlier today.

We hear stories in the store from folks who tell of the huge flocks of Evening Grosbeaks that used to be in the area.  Hundreds of these birds would descend into a yard - what a sight that must have been!  Here is an excerpt from "Birds of New York" by Elon Howard Eaton, published in 1914.

"This interesting species, which is related to the Hawfinch of Europe, is a bird of striking appearance, especially the full plumaged males, whose conspicuous coloration of bright yellow, olive, black and white, and their enormously heavy beaks, immediately attract the attention of the most casual observer. The sight of a mountain ash tree full of Evening grosbeaks, feeding on the brilliant red berries is an event long to be remembered."

(My thanks go out to Bruce Blackie who recently dropped off this interesting volume at the store for us to use as we see fit.)

When Evening Grosbeaks visit, I'll usually see them for a day or two - then they're off.  In New York, they breed in the coniferous forests of the Adirondacks.

Read more about Evening Grosbeaks on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's online guide to the birds.

 

Comments

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Robert - thanks for the report from higher elevations in California. I'm a little higher where I live and do see them more than those at lower elevations.
Be sure to check out another post that has lots of folks checking in with their Evening Grosbeak reports: http://bit.ly/j7PEJY

[Robert]

saw two evening grosbeaks this evening (Sierra Nevada Mountains in CA, elevation 2800 feet) at the feeder...beautiful!

[The Zen Birdfeeder]

Sally,
Keep watching for both Evening Grosbeaks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - they do visit feeders in our area. They prefer tray feeders, so if you only have tube-type feeders, they won't feed from those. Even a tray on the bottom of a tube feeder would work for them.

As far as the goldfinches, yes, they have been busy! Mine love the sunflower chips (no shells) I put out so it's no surprise that they're liking the WBU No-Mess you use. I also put out WBU Finch Blend, which is niger and very fine sunflower chips. They really like that too but you have to keep an eye on the seed in the feeder to keep it loose and dry.
Thanks for your comment.

[Sally]

I remember years ago all the grosbeaks but I haven't seen one in years. I do have more goldfinches than last year though. I wonder if it's a cycle thing or it might be that I changed the bird seed to the no-mess and there is something they like better. The year before I had safflower and sunflower seeds. I mentioned it to my husband and he said, how did the goldfinches find out that I had changed the mix? Kiddingly he said , did they read it in the newspaper? I laughed and said no, it was by word of beak!

Sally