MCTX 10 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Today, I saw a new one in the backyard at a feeder in Austin, TX. It is a grosbeak I think. I assume Rose-breasted because there is a tiny red spot on the side, but there are similar looking birds. Picture attached. What do you think? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BirdNrd 394 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 yes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 725 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Yep, Rose-breasted 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Highberger 3 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Looks like female Rose-breasted Grosbeak - am I correct on sex? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 725 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 I see no trace of red on the breast, so I think we can say it is a female by this time. But, I’m no expert on molt cycles... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCTX 10 Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 The same bird is back today. Here are new photos.CT2A6964.CR2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCTX 10 Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 I tried to eBird this as a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, and it says Unconfirmed. I don't know if the pictures are enough to distinguish between Black-headed Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Any more thoughts? Many thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCTX 10 Posted October 25, 2020 Author Share Posted October 25, 2020 After some googling, I read that Rose-breasted Grosbeak is supposed to have coarse streaks and the Black-headed is supposed to have fine streaks. The streaks looked coarse to me. But the black-headed usually has a gray bill and rose-breasted is supposed to have a pink bill. The bill on this one seemed gray. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 725 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 16 hours ago, Avery said: I see no trace of red on the breast I DO see red on the breast now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aveschapines 713 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 Are you certain it's the same bird? I definitely see red on the first two photos, but not the last two. If I saw either of these I'd say Rose-Breasted Grosbeak but we don't have Black-Headed here so it's easy. I agree those streaks look fine rather than coarse to me, and the bill is dark. In any case your photos should be fine for ID so feel free to send them to eBird to get a confirmation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aveschapines 713 Posted October 25, 2020 Share Posted October 25, 2020 16 hours ago, Avery said: I see no trace of red on the breast, so I think we can say it is a female by this time. But, I’m no expert on molt cycles... I see the red quite clearly too. Which would make me think immature male Rose-Breasted. But I have no experience with Black-Headed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 2,289 Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 18 hours ago, MCTX said: black-headed usually has a gray bill It has a bicolored bill, black maxilla, gray mandible. The wing pattern strongly suggests that it is an adult, which throws a weird monkey wrench into the ID. Perhaps it's a hybrid, with the mix of pink below and a more Black-headed-like bill. More pix would be useful. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCTX 10 Posted October 29, 2020 Author Share Posted October 29, 2020 I assume this is all the same bird. It came to the feeder for 3 days and left with the last cold front. Here is another photo. Also, I was able to get a few seconds video of the bird flying away, and it had lots of red under the wings looking frame by frame. So I think that confirms everyone's initial feedback that it was rose-breasted. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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