Maybe a Blue Grosbeak

by Julie Johnson
(Atmore, AL)

This bird visits our birdfeeder. Note the yellow beak and brown markings. It is small - maybe you can tell that in comparison to
the feeder.


Comment What a beautiful bird! It certainly appears to be a grosbeak. Lucky you, to have them at your feeder. Grosbeaks are delightful singers. They have strong conical bills well suited to crush seeds, and gizzards like a chicken's to grind them fine. These little grist-mills within the birds' bodies extract all the nourishment there is from the seed.
The female is rather a drab bird, sometimes mistaken for a female cowbird. Hopefully they will stay for the season. I am told they love sunflower seeds. What are you feeding him?

They also love to hop around on the ground looking for grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects.

Susan