Male rose-breasted grosbeaks show up east of the Rockies in spring, dressed to the nines in black and white with a red ascot-like marking on their chests. Females sport a more subtle look, with long white stripes above their eyes on a heavily streaked brown body with yellowish underwings. As different as they are, both share one easily recognizable feature: thick conical bills.
On a High Note
Upon arriving around May from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, these songbirds kick off courtship. The males’ melodies are designed to attract mates, claim territory and warn off competitors. Their whistles have been compared to an American robin's, only more musical, and males are known to sing more than 650 times per day. The male's courtship dance can consist of the head tipped back and tail spread out and held upright while the bird flashes its rose-colored underwings.
This story is from the April/May 2022 edition of Birds & Blooms.
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This story is from the April/May 2022 edition of Birds & Blooms.
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