Baby Black Headed Grosbeak

by Kym Backland

Title

Baby Black Headed Grosbeak

Artist

Kym Backland

Medium

Photograph

Description

This baby Black Headed Grosbeak, is looking right at me. We had a huge "crop" or dozens of families that stayed feeding in our yard all the way through November this year. I worried they would die, if they did not fly. I love their big seed beaks.
Black-headed Grosbeaks are hefty songbirds with very large bills that are conical and thick at the base. They have large heads and short, thick necks. A short tail imparts a compact, chunky look.


Color Pattern

Breeding males are rich orange-cinnamon with a black head and black-and-white wings. Females and immature males are brown above with warm orange or buff on the breast, and some have streaks on the sides of the breast. All have grayish bills. In flight, they flash bright yellow under the wings.
Behavior. Often hidden as they hop about in dense foliage gleaning insects and seeds, Black-headed Grosbeaks feed readily on sunflower seeds at feeders. Males sing in a rich, whistled lilt from treetops in spring and summer. The short, squeaky chip note is distinctive and can be a good way to find these birds.
Habitat Look for Black-headed Grosbeaks in mixed woodlands and edges from mountain forests to thickets along desert streams to backyards and gardens. Ideal habitat includes some large trees and a diverse understory.

Uploaded

December 8th, 2012

Statistics

Viewed 906 Times  -  Last Visitor from Mountain View, CA on 04/03/2024 at 12:28 AM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags