Grosbeaks - Not Really So Gross!

A dumb play on words, I know. We are fortunate to commonly see three species of grosbeak in Northeast Washington territory. Rarely, there is a fourth grosbeak that sneaks over the Rocky Mtns. and is spotted on occasion.  These seed-chompers are large and very colorful additions to our local fauna.

Two of the grosbeak species are members of the Finch family, Fringillidae. These are the Evening Grosbeak and Pine Grosbeak. The large yellow, white and black Evening Grosbeak is frequently seen at feeders featuring sunflower seeds. They travel in flocks and often dominate the scene. Evening Grosbeaks are prone to wander following food sources that are abundant and may disappear entirely for some time. These large finches do not really have a song. You often hear a high trilling or buzzy chirp, but no song like a House Finch.

                                          Male Evening Grosbeak
                                          Photo courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

Our other local finch grosbeak is the Pine Grosbeak. This winter specialist visits our area in mid-winter, travelling south from their Canadian breeding grounds. This rosy-pink gem is a sight to see on a snow covered branch. These birds are not really fond of feeders, but do visit larger platforms or hoppers that are stocked with black-oil sunflower seeds or shelled sunflower seeds. Frequently seen perched at the tops of trees, sometimes foraging on the ground, these are special birds to see anytime.

                                         Male Pine Grosbeak
                                          Photo courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

The third common grosbeak is not a finch, but rather a member of the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae. The Black-headed Grosbeak is a summer visitor, often showing up later than earlier spring migrants. At first glance one might think they have seen an Oriole. But closer examination will reveal the stout beak of a grosbeak. Orange-ish-brown and black with white wing bars, these large birds have a song reminiscent of an American Robin. The song is a little higher, more melodic and longer in duration.  Where they winter in Mexico they sometimes share habitat with Monarch Butterflies. Normally toxic to many bird predators, the Monarch is sometimes the prey of Black-headed Grosbeak. Researchers have noted that the Black-headed Grosbeak will feed on Monarchs in roughly 8-day cycles, perhaps to give themselves time to metabolize the toxin and never succumbing to it.

                                          Male Black-headed Grosbeak.
                                          Photo courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

A fourth, rare, visitor to Northeast Washington is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It seems at least once each year one of these striking relatives of the Black-headed Grosbeak will be seen in the Spokane area. Normally residing east of the Rocky Mtns, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak has a song similar to the Black-headed and is famous for its lovely melodic refrains. Don't count on seeing one, but if you hear of one it might be worth the trip to add it to your life list!

                                          Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
                                          Photo courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

I hope you have the chance to enjoy these large and colorful birds at a feeder, or forest, near you!

Good Birding!

                -Hawkeye

Nessy, Sasquatch, and the Flammulated Owl

Sketchy descriptions, grainy photographs, legends and tales. These are the hallmarks of iconic figures of cryptozoology, such as the Loch Ness monster and our local favorite, the Sasquatch. I have a couple of birds that have been personal nemesis, seemingly as mysterious as the legendary serpent and  ape-man of lore. Sometimes, I have wondered if these birds really exist, or that they may just  be some long standing joke among professional and amateur ornithologists.

                     
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
One such bird is the Flammulated Owl. This tiny owl (barely 6-inches tall) is rarely ever seen during the daytime. Most often, birders only get to hear the low monotone hoot of the male owl, long after sundown. The trachea of this tiny owl is larger than might be expected, allowing the hoot to sound like a much larger bird. A pretty handy bluff when you are not much bigger than a small juice can.

                                                             Flammulated Owl
                                             Photo courtesy the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

In our area, Flamms (as they are known by all the cool birders) might be found in open Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir stands on south facing slopes. Last week I was part of group that went out looking for Flamms on the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge. Guided by refuge biologist, Mike Munts, we indeed did hear a male Flamm hooting. AND, in response, we heard a female calling back. A Life Bird for me! They do exist and are significantly easier to find than Nessy or Bigfoot.

Flammulated owls depend on large nest cavities created by large woodpeckers, such as the Pileated Woodpecker. Pileateds need to find large snags to excavate in order to create nests big enough for them. Thus, Flammualted Owls seek out large diameter pine forests to nest and forage. They specialize in hunting moths and large insects near the tops of these large conifer.

Little is known about this highly nocturnal migratory bird. They winter in Mexico and Central America and summer in the pine forests of the Rocky Mountains, Cascades and southern British Columbia. If you go searching for Flamms be sure to plan on being the woods well after sundown (after 10 PM). Scout for stands of large diameter Ponderosa Pines on south facing slopes. Become familiar with the call by listening to recordings on birding web pages like the  All About Birds page developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Be patient, listen to all of the night sounds. And see if you can add the Flamm to your Life List.

Good Birding!

          - Hawkeye