Black-headed Grosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak, Forest Grove, Oregon on 15 May 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

Black-headed Grosbeaks are common migrants and summer residents throughout the Pacific NW. They arrive in May and are quite common in towns at bird feeders and in riparian areas and deciduous and mixed woods through September.

The male, pictured above, is rusty-orange on the breast and rump, yellow on the body, black on the back. It has a black head and black wings and tail with large white patches and spots. Males sing a clear, rapid, robin-like warble. Both sexes give a sharp pik call.

Females and young during the first year are duller overall (brownish and pale orange) with striped head ("chipmunk bird").

These songbirds take 2 years to reach full adult plumage. The immature male plumages have a more striped head and back than adults.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 24

Black-headed Grosbeak at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

[Click to read all Memorial Day weekend at Malheur posts.]

An activity pursued by many birders at Malheur during memorial day--and throughout this time in later spring--is searching for rare birds. One-year old birds tend to migrate later and wander more widely than adults. Thus, many rare first-year vagrants are found during the Memorial Day weekend.

"Did you hear about the Hooded Oriole at Fields?"

"Yes, we just came from there and saw it! And did you hear about the Blackpoll Warbler at Benson Pond?"

Such are the greetings of birders throughout the weekend as they pass in cars or meet in the various oases.

While Black-headed Grosbeaks (female photographed above) are abundant migrants and quite pretty in both plumage and song, birders examine them closely at Malheur looking for the similar vagrant Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Jackson Bottom birds: May 14-20, 2010

Female Black-headed Grosbeak, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on May 19, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Spring migration seem to be waning at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. Fewer migrant birds than summer residents were detected this week. Of note was a rare FORSTER'S TERN that passed through on May 14. New migrant arrivals this week included SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. High numbers of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS continue to pass through (including the female photographed during a shower on May 19).

During calm mornings the soft lisping songs of YELLOW WARBLERS are heard in the willows. These birds are generally quite uncommon in western Oregon. On the free Wednesday morning bird walk this week we heard 5 singing male YELLOW WARBLERS on the Blue Heron Trail and 2 additional birds on the Kingfisher Marsh Trail. The Wednesday morning bird walks are from 8:30 to 11:00 am. No pre-registration is necessary, just meet on the back deck of the education center for a leisurely 3 miles stroll.

The week ended with cold, windy, rainy weather, thus the total number of birds detected this week is perhaps lower with fewer birders reporting sightings.

An AMERICAN ROBIN is setting on a nest in the viewing shelter. BARN SWALLOWS are nesting under the footbridge. A fledgling RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was noted, as well as a used nest of that species. A brood of MALLARD chicks was noted, along with CANADA GOOSE families. Several fledgling LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been noted.

Here is this week's list of birds sighted.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch

Young Black-headed Grosbeak at the feeder

Black-headed Grosbeak, Forest Grove, Oregon on 16 August 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

We have several feeders in the yard, including one right up on the deck next to our back window. There is a group of four young Black-headed Grosbeaks that are present nearly all day long now at our feeders. They are irresistable to photograph--even through the window, as this bird.

To reduce reflections off both inner and outer surfaces I shoot perpendicular to the window at the same level as the bird. That also gives the low perspective that many bird photography critiques desire. I also make sure that the inside of the house was as dark as possible to reduce reflections of inside objects. Due to the dark background and sun on the bird, it was impossible not to over-expose the highlights on the breast and neck, but I brought them down as much as I could with Photoshop Elements. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. 1/40s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso200, hand held.

Anyway, no time to really watch birds today, but I took 20 minutes out to take this photo to upload and share.

Bird feeding... types of food

Black-headed Grosbeak, American Goldfinches, and Purple Finch enjoying black oil sunflower seeds, Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon on 7 July 2007 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Southwestern Idaho Birders Association has this list of backyard bird foods.

They also have a table of common birds attracted to various types of food.