Rose-breasted grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
About the bird: mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov
These well-dressed birds frequent our feeder. They prefer the hopper feeder and they exhibit territorial behavior at the feeder. When the hopper feeder is empty, they will feed on the ground. Recently the hopper feeder was empty and there were at least 11 rose-breasted grosbeaks on the ground under the feeders. They were making all sorts of creaking sounds and they were lurching at each other, sometimes one would chase another a few steps. Despite the battle for seed real estate, they all continued eating until something frightened them away.
One day while watching the birds with camera in hand, I happened to catch an amusing scenario between a male rose-breasted grosbeak and a female cardinal.
In this image, a female cardinal has landed on the hopper feeder. Apparently, she has had some experience with the rose-breasted grosbeak because she leans over and looks at the grosbeak, then she flies to the ground.
This image shows the rose-breasted grosbeak leaning way over to look at whoever dared land on the feeder while he was there. The cardinal had already left so the grosbeak returned to his lunch.
Female Cardinal on the Window Sill
Happy Bird Watching,
Donna Young
I wish that I could post pictures like these. Unfortunately we don’t get quite the assortment of birds in our yard – mainly just robins and magpies – and we’re not supposed to have feeders up because they attract bears. 🙁 Not that I’ve ever seen bears w/in 2 miles of my house but I guess that they still around so no feeders allowed.
😆 Oh those are hilarious pictures! I love it!!
I saw what might have been a female grosbeak, but it is too difficult for me to discern and I haven’t had any male grosbeaks at my feeders. So, she remains a mystery bird.
😆 Love the pictures! I haven’t seen a grosbeak around here.
I had to fill the birdfeeder this morning. It had been empty for two days. :worry: I was thinking I had lost the feathered friends to another feeder, but two cardinals started eating before I even got back into the house. I was happy. 🙂
Elaine, you should keep a bird bath instead. You can get those heated water bowls that would keep water from freezing year round…. that would attract a lot of birds I am sure… especially when water sources are more limited.
I was amazed at how many birds the bird bath brought in.
Actually I was just looking online and they make heated bird baths….
😆
What a wonderful sight!
Sitting out on the front porch as afforded me the sight of a robin bathing in some water in the street, a male cardinal looking for food in my yard, and a pair of hummers at my feeder.
Speaking of bird baths, some of the smaller birds are drinking from the ant-moat that is atop my hummingbird feeder.
Donna, that’s funny about birds drinking from the ant-moat. How often do you have to refill it?
I’ve never seen a rose-breasted grosbeak. When I was little, I marked up my parents’ North American wildlife book – I circled all the birds I wanted to see, and then crossed out all the ones I did see. (My parents were very understanding of my need to write in books.) I looked at it last summer during a visit, and the rose-breasted grosbeak was circled, but not crossed out. If I ever see one I will havce my mother cross it out for me. 😀
I have to fill it more than twice a day, but I usually only do it once or twice. 🙂 When the birds take off from the post, they make some of the water jiggle out. Yesterday I put a Frisbee full of water on the ground. I don’t know if any of the birds used it. 😀
That was sweet of your parents to let you write in the bird book. 🙂 The rose-breasted grosbeaks are feisty birds; I hope you see some in the future.