[TN-Bird] Re: Possible Pine Grosbeak
- From: Charlie <cmmbirds@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: harrijb0@xxxxxxxxxxx, tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2006 15:36:49 -0800 (PST)
According to Robinson's book, the records for this species consist of
"species supported by fossil evidence"
This bird would be a wonderful find in TN. I know that when I go to
New England in winter, I HOPE that one came far enough south to see
it...
Barry, did you consider White-winged Crossbill? Still a very good
find, but I would say more likely. Very similar plumage, but about
1/2 the size.
A Pine Grosbeak is not terribly larger than a Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
which is to say it is only 2/3 the mass of a starling. Not a huge
bird. I could easily see even the most experienced birder making
that size error, if there were not another bird right by to compare
with.
PLEASE try to get pictures of this bird if you see it again!
Charlie
--- Bert Harris <harrijb0@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Dear TNBIRD,
>
> How many records does TN have for Pine Grosbeak?
>
> -Bert Harris
> Sewanee
>
> > 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)
> >
> >
> > =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
> >
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> >
> > _____________________________________________________________
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>
> =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
>
> The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
> first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
> You are also required to list the count in which the birds
> you report were seen. The actual date of observation should
> appear in the first paragraph.
> _____________________________________________________________
> To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
> tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> _____________________________________________________________
> To unsubscribe, send email to:
> tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
> ______________________________________________________________
> TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society
> Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
> endorse the views or opinions expressed
> by the members of this discussion group.
>
> Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
> wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
> web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
>
> _____________________________________________________________
>
>
>
*******************************************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist near
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
"To the dull mind all nature is leaden. To the illuminated mind
the whole world sparkles with light." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the count in which the birds
you report were seen. The actual date of observation should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society
Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
endorse the views or opinions expressed
by the members of this discussion group.
Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________
Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
_____________________________________________________________
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