Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

 For this week's post I am featuring the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak .  These birds only show up in my yard during their migration. They might stop off for a meal or two in the spring and in the fall. They breed in cooler parts of North America. I have seen them during my hikes at Shenandoah Nat'l Park  in the summer months.





The adult breeding male has a black head , back, wings and tail. The male has this bright red rose patch on its breast. They have the white eyebrow or supercilium. They are one of my prettier yardbirds.





They are insect eating birds but they seem to love the Black-oiled sunflower seeds.





The female has darker brown back and wings and the white eyebrow.


Here is an archived shot of a spring male showing the pretty black. His colors are beautiful.


Here is another one of my new warbler yardbirds passing thru. Not the best photo, it was a Cape May Warbler. The warbler are loving this pokeberry. The Cape May Warbler passed thru on the same day as the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.. I have to say this has been the best year for new warbler yardbirds. 




To see more beautiful and wonderful photos please visit: Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.

44 comments:

  1. Great photos of the birds. The Grosbeak is especially beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous photos, Eileen. I will be super excited when and if I photograph a rose-breasted grosbeak this well. :))

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a fascinating bird to get in your garden. From Findlay

    ReplyDelete
  4. the grosbeak is a beauty!!

    you sure are seeing a lot of action at that feeder!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely birds to get in your garden. Nice shots too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Derist ja echt toll...

    Lieben Gruß
    CL

    ReplyDelete
  7. wonderful shots of these grosbeaks! i've only seen one or two migrating thru here. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great photos as always. All birds are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  9. A great photo!! Perfect post for WBW!

    ReplyDelete
  10. don´t think I have seen this one before. It has a very interesting coloring. .)

    ReplyDelete
  11. The dark background in the first shot really shows off the wonderful coloring of the Grosbeak.
    Lovely shot!
    Have a great week Eileen!

    ReplyDelete
  12. They are beautiful!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a beautiful bird, Eileen. I've only seen a rose-breasted grosbeak once. It would be such a treat to see one again. I can tell you are an avid birder; you have great photos to show for your patience.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the birds ~ Great shots ~ right in your own backyard ~ (A Creative Harbor) ~ thanks for coming by and commenting ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a gorgeous visitor! I would be thrilled to see one of them...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wonderful shots of the grosbeak, I always enjoy watching them at my feeders.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Holy cow! Another awesome bird in your yard. This is one I'm looking for here....and sometimes it stops by .....but they are very difficult to find sometimes. Glad you had an awesome visitor to your yard. Beautiful bird.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love that head on pic, the second one.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Eileen Beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I have never seen one. I sure would love to get a sighting. Supposedly these birds are in our general community in the Winter and Spring so maybe I will have a chance to see one. Who knows? Have an excellent Wed. tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful pictures of the rose-breasted grosbeak. I look for this bird each Spring. It is so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice captures. You are so lucky to get such interesting guests regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The grosbeak is beautiful, great pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Delightful series of flowers, birds and critters!

    ReplyDelete
  24. it must love the pokeberry so much! if I were a bird I think I will too :-) lovely wings captures as always ;D

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great pictures - your bird has a very solid beak - just like the one I posted - But I dont think they are closely related.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love the Grosbeak, well done Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great photos of this colourful bird in your garden! I don't think we have them here.
    Have a nice weeek! Greetings Pia

    ReplyDelete
  29. That must be exciting for a birder. The first gut looks like he has been dabbed with a paintbrush.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lovely pictures of the grosbeak Eileen and what a super bird to have regularly in your garden, even if it is only at migration time. I remember those chaps from Canada giving me some painful nips with their super strong bills.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great photos Eileen!The birds look so cute!Wish you a lovely day!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
  32. what an adorable post, dear eileen!

    such beautiful birds and flowers...
    this totally uplifted my morning!
    thank you:)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Ooh I wish we had the Rose-breasted Grosbeak out here... Such a gorgeous bird!

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a cool bird feeder, he's sitting on it like a swing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. What a cracking bird Eileen! I would love to have one of these turn up in my back garden! I would have a fit!
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

    ReplyDelete
  36. Lovely, Eileen! I love birds and yours are especially beautiful! Christa

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would love to see that bird! Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  38. She is a beautiful bird! And I love your header photo - a field of sunflowers!

    ReplyDelete
  39. wow, that grosbeak is a beautiful bird!!! i've never seen one around here!! great shots!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I can't imagine life without beautiful and ever changing skies ... they light up our day.
    Hoping your week is going well Eileen
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  41. We didn't have a pair that nested and brought their young to the feeders...I love them...Michelle

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day." "T...