FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Possible Pine Grosbeak

[FINCH64@xxxxxxx]

A few minutes ago I looked out at my bird feeder (chocked full of black oil 
sunflower seeds with suet in the holders on the sides) and saw a fairly large 
bird sitting facing me most of the time. So I got long, fairly good looks at 
it's front - especially the head. But very little view of the rear portion of 
the bird and no view at all of it's tail.
The top and around most of the head, chest, belly, and basically most of the 
front of the bird was a very deep, dark burgundy read. I could see some white 
on the very underneath of the belly. Around the eyes were patches of darker, 
greyish red. The bill was dark grey and very stout with a hooked look - more 
like a parrot than a conical finch bill. It didn't appear to be crossed over 
like a crossbill. However, I have considered the possibility that it may have 
been a crossbill - but maybe an immature crossbill? I have never seen either a 
crossbill or Pine Grosbeak so both birds would be unknown to me. I believe the 
feet were also dark grey.

The bird was fairly slow in it's movements even when it was eating. Very 
unlike most small birds which are quick and jumpy when they eat. I was looking 
out 
the window at it with binoculars and it was maybe 15 feet away from me. The 
feeder is hung on a tree which is right next to our front porch. So I can get 
very good looks at the birds there with my binoculars. It looked straight in my 
direction most of the time. But once in awhile would look up at a 
White-throated Sparrow on a branch above the feeder.

The bird turned slightly on it's side when it was feeding so I got a slight 
view of the wings. Some white on the wings that I did notice.

I figured that Pine Grosbeaks were much larger than this bird, but, again, I 
didn't see it's tail at all - so I was only looking at the front part of the 
bird which seemed fairly large to me. However, the bird had most of it's body 
actually sitting on the tray itself rather than only perched clinging to the 
side which is how most other larger birds (Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, etc) 
feed at my feeder. Again wondering if it really may have been a smaller bird - 
perhaps an immature crossbill or maybe it was an immature Pine Grosbeak?

Hopefully it will return and I can get a better look at it's full length and 
tail and get a better I.D. of the bird.

I have never seen a Pine Grosbeak in our area, although I know from reading 
that they are in our area and have been more abundant in the past. But, I'm 
understanding their numbers have dwindled in this area in recent years.

Barry Jernigan
Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, TN
(Burnt Knob Road between Almaville and Blackman - rural residential)


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