Date: 4/17/24 4:03 pm From: Robert Ross <plumisl...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Grosbeaks in Ipswich
Hello All:
Today I went to the private yard in Ipswich where a Blue Grosbeak was found earlier this week by Sue McGrath. The bird showed up for me around 1:30 PM and hung around for approximately 10 minutes. Beautiful bird.
When I first pulled up the house, and walked toward the feeders, I saw a red bird dart into a feeder with a blue roof, transparent sides, and birdhouse size holes on either end. I raised my binoculars just as it darted back out of the feeder and perched in a horizontal position on the deck rail.
Red head, red back, noticeably black wing surrounded by red, and at least one wing bar. Obviously larger than a House Finch and more close in size to the cardinals who were ubiquitous around the feeder. My instinct ID was Pine Grosbeak.
I raised my camera as it jumped back into the feeder and just as quickly darted out the opposite side and across a wetland behind the house toward a large stand of very tall pines. No shot at a photo.
I am quite sure this bird was a Pine Grosbeak, as I've seen many in my life (I grew up in Wisconsin in the 1970s where they were feeder birds). However, the other possibility is a Red Crossbill. I thought for sure I saw a different bill structure than the Crossbill. At that distance and with the quick view, I could have mistaken a Crossbill for the Pine Grosbeak.
So if you go to see the Blue Grosbeak, keep an eye out for a Pine Grosbeak or perhaps a Red Crossbill. I would be surprised if it was a Crossbill, but I'm glad to be corrected if so.
