I went for a short hike at Camden State Park, hoping to see one of my favorite birds, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It wasn't until near the end of my visit when I finally saw it. Today, it was sure talkative. Awesome! I hope you enjoy these videos and some information from the Sibley Guide to Birds below. Thank you.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Identifying Black-Headed and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks: Breast color and streaking separates most female birds of these two species, but there is variation, and not all individuals are identifiable. Also beware of hybrids, which are seen regularly in the small area of range overlap but only occasionally elsewhere. Confusion is created by some worn Black-headed females (May-Aug) with whitish breasts, but these will have also lost most breast streaking through wear. A more common source of confusion is some 1st winter Rose-breasted males (Aug-Mar) with finely streaked buffy breasts like Black-headed. These birds have pink underwing coverts, however, and usually some pinkish on the breast. Also beware that 1st summer males of both species are quite variable and that Rose-breasted can be extensively buffy on underparts. Determining age and sex can be a useful step toward identification.
Voice: Song is a slow, whistled warble, sort of robinlike but slightly husky in quality, without gurgling notes; pace steady and slow. Call is a sharp, squeaky iik like sneakers on a gym floor. Flight call a soft, wheezy wheek; thrushlike, with airy quality (unlike husky trumpet sound of the Baltimore Oriole).
Works Cited
Sibley, D. A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York City: Chanticleer Press, Inc. (2000): 466-467.
Sibley, D. A. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York City: Chanticleer Press, Inc. (2000): 466-467.
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