This sighting/query was sent in by Virginia Palumbo. Any thoughts? Please post any comments/help below this post. Thanks!
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Has anyone seen a Pine Grosbeak in downtown Chelan or nearby? I'm nearly certain that is what I had at my feeder yesterday, but have a few questions about it, having never seen one before. It was feeding in with the Goldfinches, House Finches, Pine Siskins, and Juncos on mixed seed. (I do have many conifers in my yard, but could hardly call if a coniferous forest). It was shaped like the finches, but larger than both. It had a plain gray breast,and distinct white wing bars. It did have a short, thick curved bill, but much less ponderous than other Grosbeaks. The remarkable thing was a bright russet head and rump. It looks like the pictures of a first year male Pine Grosbeak, or female with orangish plumage. My doubt is due to the fact that it was alone, not in a flock, that it appeared closer to 8" in size rather than 9", and that Chelan is a low elevation to find a Pine Grosbeak. I'd love to hear any comments on the likelihood that this was indeed a Pine Grosbeak. I can't find anything else that comes close to this bird, and I'd love to call it my first Pine Grosbeak.
Thanks! - Virginia Palumbo
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1 comment:
Only other thing I can think of is possibly Cassin's Finch? (wing bars not as distinct, and possibly more reddish on the breast than you saw?) Here in the Methow Valley, we've had an influx of these in the last few days.
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