Post by Gord on Aug 7, 2012 23:04:58 GMT -8
Kathy sent me some pictures of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak from the Harrison Mills area. Kathy and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks get along well as this is the third one she's found. This appears to be a full adult bird and the bit of colour on the head, back and breast is molt related. The tail is short and being regrown all at the same time which would be indicative of a bird that lost all his tail feathers due to a close scrape with a predator. Last year's bird Kathy found in May 2011 was also a full adult, but the one in August of 2010 was a young bird in his second summer (born 2009) so it would work to say the same bird is being seen as it continues to migrate through the same area annually. The question is he paired up and breeding is a very good question to ask and Kathy rightfully has already wondered.
