Have you ever seen a Blue Grosbeak? I didn’t know anything about this stunning bird until a fellow backyard birdwatcher who lives about 15 miles away sent this amazing picture. At first glance it’s easy to mistake him for a bluebird, but notice his silvery beak and brown wing bars. Even though their summer range is the Southern U.S., Blue Grosbeaks aren’t a common backyard bird. That might be because they prefer thickets, scrubby terrain, and orchards. Their diet consists of seeds and insects. You can see the chunky bill is ideal for cracking large seeds.
The same person also sent me this recent picture of male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. One or two of these have visited my feeders in Spring. These birds breed in the northern U.S., the Great Plains and southern Canada and winter in Central and South America. Atlanta is only in their migratory path so they don't linger here. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak eats insects, seeds, fruits, and buds. They nest in deciduous woodlands, orchards, and gardens.
I wish the Blue Grosbeak would visit my feeders. But while I’m waiting for one to appear, it’s nice to know a dedicated birdwatcher who is generous enough to let me share pictures of such an exciting Georgia sighting. I just hope I can learn his secret for attracting Grosbeaks.
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