Long-distance migrant. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks fly from North American breeding grounds to Central and northern South America. Most of them fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single night, although some migrate over land around the Gulf.
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of five species of grosbeaks that occur in North America. The Rose-breasted, Black-headed and Blue Grosbeaks, members of the family Emberizidae (buntings, sparrows), are Neotropical migrants that nest in the USA but withdraw to Mexico and Central America in the winter months. The Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, members of the family Fringillidae (finches, crossbills) are resident in North America. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks provide an important economic service by consuming large numbers of destructive insect pests such as grasshoppers, cankerworms, tent caterpillars, tussock moths, gypsy moths, brown-tailed moths, and the Colorado potato beetle, which gives it its local name potato-bug bird. Unfortunately, populations are declining in many areas, especially in the east. Banding studies show that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are medium distance migrants that live 9 or more years in the wild. Captive birds have lived from 15 to 24 years.
http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/rbgrosbeak.htm
Photographs taken near New Concord, Ohio.
The last day of the fall banding season was bitter sweet. As a team of dedicated volunteers we show up every Sunday morning at 6 am to hastily set the 10 nets up before daylight. The Owls give a couple hoots just before light to tell us it’s time to set our watch for every half hour to check the nets.Yesterday the woods came alive with bird sounds as day broke. In the tree tops above the banding station we saw Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo gleaming for food. The cool birds down below netted were the Hooded Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroath, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Bluejay, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Phoebe and the vocal Grey Catbirds.
Thanks to the many people who came to the station this fall to check out the information Mr. Jim gathers from each bird. Almost everyone was able to release a wild bird that came to the station. The group of professional volunteers work as one to ensure every bird is handled with care. Also thanks to the City of Dunedin allowing us to gather important migratory information at the Hammocks park for the last five years. Jim will have the stats on his blog soon at http://hammockbirdbanding.wordpress.com.
Join us again in the spring as we will again go six Sundays in a row at the Dunedin Hammocks city park.
Female Hooded and Magnolia Warblers pose side by side.
Granddaughter Ali releases the Magnolia Warbler.
Birds by Dave 