June 14, 2010 at Michigan Hollow, near Ithaca, New York
You can imagine my delight at capturing great video of a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I’m not saying he is my first, but he is definitely the prettiest male to date (all others were first-year males with undeveloped plumage). He was so darned cooperative that I imagine someone hired this bird to come sing for me . . . perhaps to celebrate my birthday that passed by just a few days prior.
The song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a lilting musical carol, lasting several seconds and with five to ten seconds of silence between songs. It has been likened to the song of “a Robin who took singing lessons.” Although robin-like, the rich and vibrant quality of the grosbeak’s notes are unmistakable, even when heard at a great distance.
Lucky are we that live within the range of this beautiful and talented singer, who (in our area) seems to prefer open woodland next to shrubby clearings or wet areas.
click for large map with color codes
Update for blog followers:
I’ve been so busy for the last few weeks that I haven’t had any time to post videos. A brief trip to the Adirondacks yielded wonderful video of Lincoln’s Sparrow and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Locally, around Ithaca, I’ve gotten great footage of Chestnut-sided Warbler, Song Sparrow, Rufous-sided Towhee, and more.
Now I’m headed off for two weeks in Maine. I’ll be visiting Eastern Egg Rock Island, where Steve Kress of the Audubon Society re-introduced puffins. Then on to northern Maine to meet a friend and hopefully gather more exciting video.
It’s a very busy time for me—sooner or later I’ll find the time to get all the new video up on the blog. Please be patient and stay tuned!
