Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

This is an adult female showing characteristic white tail spots and white patch at base of primaries. A very rare winter visitor to our area, this North American endemic has erratic and eruptive movements in response to food. This one was chowing down on the bright red fruit of ornamental Chinese Pistache trees planted in a residential area. Some authors place this species in the genus "Hesperiphona."