Towheeblog

“Ragged men in ragged clothes…”   —Vincent, Don McLean

A young male Black-headed Grosbeak showed up in our garden this afternoon.  “Ragged” is the word.  He is still molting into his summer clothes.  A first year bird because there is still an orange bar above his eye, a field mark that will go away be the time he returns next spring, if he manages…

This fellow seems to appreciate the sunflower seeds we serve.

In past years we have had occasional sightings of this species, always in season, May through early September.  As far as I know they don’t nest in any of our trees though I can occasionally hear one singing across the street.