Chipmonster 0 Posted August 26, 2018 This bird was a first-time customer at my feeders today and his size and markings struck me as unusual. I live in North Battleford, SK, Canada which is a small city near a river valley system. We live right in the middle of the city and usually have an assortment of chickadees, sparrows, and nuthatches that frequent the feeders (along with the occas. Blue Jay and squirrel). I pored through my books and apps and nothing seemed to ‘match’ given where we live. It kind of looks like a Grosbeak (which I’m unfamiliar with) but doesn’t due to coloring? Maybe immature? I’d love to know more so if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated!! I like to watch what’s in the yard and find out more when I see something new 🙂 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IvoryBillHope 379 Posted August 26, 2018 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a male that has already molted into winter plumage I believe. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sue 1 Posted August 26, 2018 Looks like it’s too small to be a grosbeak. They’re kind of big. Looks more like a purple finch or house finch. They’re pretty similar. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jabird 20 Posted August 26, 2018 Agree with grosbeak. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 2,431 Posted August 26, 2018 Distinctly defined triangular reddish breast coming in says young male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk01 169 Posted August 26, 2018 Rose-breasted Grosbeak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sue 1 Posted August 27, 2018 12 hours ago, IvoryBillHope said: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a male that has already molted into winter plumage I believe. 10 hours ago, Sue said: Looks like it’s too small to be a grosbeak. They’re kind of big. Looks more like a purple finch or house finch. They’re pretty similar. Looks like it’s too small to be a grosbeak. They’re kind of big. Looks more like a purple finch or house finch. They’re pretty similar. I stand corrected. I would have thought they’d be bigger though based on an influx of Evening Grosbeaks we had back on Long Island some 30 years ago. The snows were terrible in the Midwest for a few years. It wasn’t much fun in NY either! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sue 1 Posted August 27, 2018 I stand corrected. I would have thought they’d be bigger though based on an influx of Evening Grosbeaks we had back on Long Island some 30 years ago. The snows were terrible in the Midwest for a few years. It wasn’t much funin NY either! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 2,431 Posted August 27, 2018 7 hours ago, Sue said: I stand corrected. I would have thought they’d be bigger though based on an influx of Evening Grosbeaks we had back on Long Island some 30 years ago. The snows were terrible in the Midwest for a few years. It wasn’t much funin NY either! Size can be difficult to judge, especially when working from a photo without having actually seen the bird live. This particular photo doesn't include any objects of known size, so we don't have anything to compare the bird with. There's the feeder, but we don't know how big it actually is. There have been a couple of photos recently including Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers on suet cages. Those photos make size comparison easy between the two otherwise similar woodies, and the cages of two relatively standard sizes. This photo doesn't offer us any useful size comparisons so we have to work with the evidence we do have. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
