Bonanza Bird #1: Rose-breasted Grosbeak

For 22 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2012. We're counting up to our 400th species! We proudly kick off our Bonanza 2012 with a beautiful species native to the Americas: the Rose-breasted Grosbeak!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are small songbirds that breed across the Northeast of the United States and across much of Canada. These migratory beauties head south in the fall, spending the winter in Central and northern South America. Males have a shock of red on the chest, for which the species is named. Females look very different; they are sometimes mistaken for sparrows.

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Rose-breasted Grosbeak by Putneypics

Did you know ...

  • Most birds keep quiet while incubating eggs to avoid attention from predators, but male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sing quietly to each other when they exchange places on the nest, and the male sings his normal song while near or even on the nest;
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks love moonlit nights and sometimes sing all night long when the moon is shining;
  • In areas where their range overlap, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks may cross-breed with Black-headed Grosbeaks. Babies can look like either parent, or have a mixed pattern;
  • Its nest, which is built from twigs in treetops, is often so thinly constructed that the eggs can be seen from below;
  • Birdhouses built for bluebirds may also be used for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks;
  • Their large beaks allow them to eat large grasshoppers and other insects that have tough exoskeletons;
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeaks love sunflower seeds and will be attracted to hopper feeders containing striped or black-oil sunflower seeds.
Birdorable Rose-breasted Grosbeak sample products

Tomorrow's bird is endemic to the Hawaiian islands. Can you guess what it will be?

Birdorable Bonanza Preview

Comments

Tough Titmouse on July 10, 2012 at 11:51 AM wrote:
Oh, it's beautiful? now, this bird is shaped like a duck or goose... now let me think.. I've got it! I think it's a Nene!!!
Tough Titmouse on July 10, 2012 at 11:52 AM wrote:
Oops, I didn't mean to write, "Oh, it's beautiful?", I meant to write "OH it's beautiful!"
Karen Jones on July 10, 2012 at 2:38 PM wrote:
It's a Nene!!
lyonsinger on July 10, 2012 at 5:02 PM wrote:
Definitely the Nene Goose
Laurakeet on July 10, 2012 at 7:15 PM wrote:
i hope one of the birds will be an african crowned crane or a moa.
Birdorable on July 11, 2012 at 1:39 PM wrote:
Hi Laurakeet! Thanks for following our Bonanza. We have already chosen the birds for this round, and unfortunately your requested birds are not among them. Blue Bird-of-paradise and African Crowned Crane are definitely on our list for the future!
Louise Warner on February 2, 2017 at 9:51 AM wrote:
canada goose?
Louise Warner on February 2, 2017 at 9:52 AM wrote:
nene goose?
Spurwing Plover on January 30, 2022 at 8:34 AM wrote:
Most all Male Birds are more colorful then the Female especialy the Birds of Paradise and the Monal
Spurwing Plover on May 26, 2022 at 7:26 AM wrote:
I read they have apitite for Colorado Potato Beetles

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