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Monday, May 11, 2009

New Visitor - The Blue Grosbeak

With the spring song bird migration at it's peak here in VA, I spend a little extra time watching the backyard birdfeeders. You just never know what might show up. Last spring a rose-breasted grosbeak stopped by for a few days on his way up north. It was a first for me. This spring his cousin, the blue grosbeak decided to stop by for a few days - another first.

This was a juvenile male. Adult males are mostly all blue with brown wing bars.

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The Blue Grosbeak, unlike the rose-breasted grosbeak, will spend its summer here in the south. In fact, they nest across most of the southern half of the US to northern Mexico. Winter months are spent in Central America.

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Blue grosbeaks forage mostly on the ground for seeds and insects, as this one was doing. It was tough to get a decent photograph of this guy. I waited patiently for him to perch up on the birdfeeder he was under but he didn't want to cooperate; nevertheless, I enjoyed his company while it lasted.

For more bird photos, check out this weeks edition of Bird Photography Weekly #37.

 

10 comments:

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

That is amazing Alan! I have never seen one of the Blue Grosbeak. We have the Rosebreasted Grosbeak, rarely.

Kelly said...

...lucky! We have Blue Grosbeaks on the trail about 5 mins from our house, but they have never ventured into my backyard. He is lovely.

Bob Kaufman said...

Lucky you! Although Blue Grosbeaks are not unusual here in Southern California, I've never seen an immature one with only a partial blue coloring.

Unknown said...

what a cool looking bird....you are so blessed to see so many birds.

mick said...

Very nice photos and great that you were able to see and photograph an immature bird.

Neil said...

Beautiful looking bird

Vickie said...

He is lovely in his juvenile plumage. What a nice visit.

Wondering Woman said...

I'm in Arkansas and the rose-breasted and blue grosbeaks are visiting my house for the first time and I've been here 18 years. It's been quite exciting to see them and more show up every day.

Brad Myers said...

What an awesome visitor, I am sure you were thrilled. Great capture.

Dawn Fine said...

Alan...
So cool you have the Blue Grosbeak..They seem to nest where my sister lives in NC..maybe you will get lucky and have him stick around.