Date: 7/7/25 9:35 am From: Dave Bengston via groups.io <davebengston...> Subject: [Mendobirds] Rare feeding behavior - BH Grosbeak and Amer Goldfinch
This morning I was watching my feeders. There were a number of American Goldfinches on them and then a young BH Grosbeak landed on the top bar above the feeders. A female Goldfinch landed next to it. I was watching the Grosbeak with binoculars at the time. They leaned towards each other and I was waiting expectantly to see pecking and aggressive behavior and then one get driven away. Instead, the Goldfinch fed some seed to the Grosbeak! I was stunned. The Grosbeak remained there, so I ran and got my camera and waited hoping to see if it would be repeated and catch it on camera. The Grosbeak stayed for a couple of minutes and finally flew away. The Grosbeak did not appear to be begging for food at the time (at least nothing I could see). Most of the young Grosbeaks are feeding themselves at the feeders by now. Other species present included WB Nuthatch, Acorn Woodpecker. Stellar's Jay and Oak Titmouse.
I have witnessed swallows feeding bluebirds and Oak Timouses and possibly CB Chickadees in nests; and of course other species feeding BH Cowbirds; but I have never seen interspecie feeding at a feeder.
