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The males take two years to gain full plumage. This is presumably the nominate eastern race smaller with a smaller bill and more purple than birds from the western US. Formerly placed in the monotypic genus "Guiraca" but moved to "Passerina" by the AOS in 2002 (43rd supplement) based on...
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) male. East Sheepshead Street, South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Marshes and Prairies vegetation area, barrier island, Laguna Madre Bay on the west side of the island and the Gulf of Mexico on the east side. Edge of a mesquite woodland...
This is a full adult male. The males take two years to gain full plumage. A common migrant and summer breeder, this is presumably the nominate eastern race, smaller with a smaller bill and more purple than birds from the western US.
Females such as this are a distinctive cinnamon brown. Formerly placed in the monotypic genus "Guiraca" but moved to "Passerina" by the AOS in 2002 (43rd supplement) based on molecular studies which found it is most closely related to the Lazuli Bunting. This was later shown to be incorrect...
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) male. South Padre Island Convention Center, South Padre island, Cameron County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Marshes and Prairies
This is a full adult male. The males take two years to gain full plumage. Females are mostly brown. Formerly placed in the monotypic genus "Guiraca" but moved to "Passerina" by the AOS in 2002 (43rd supplement) based on genetic studies which found it is most closely related to the Lazuli...
This is presumably the race "P. c. interfusa" which is a synonym of "P. c. mesophyla" breeding in West Texas. It is characterized by the lack of purple tones and having a somewhat longer bill than the nominate race which breeds in much of Eastern North America. Formerly placed in the monotypic...
Only the second time I've had one of these come to the feeder and after about a week, haven't seen him! Would love to see a male fully molted out in blue, but I'll take this one!
My first thought was an Indigo Bunting. But it had reddish brown wings/wing bars through binos. This is pretty far north for a Blue Grosbeak, but there have been several spotted in the greater Chicago area (taken about 40mi north) this year. And a Neotropical Cormorant is currently hangin out...
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) Transitional male. High Island, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Urban setting in a mowed yard. Secondary coastal woodland dominated by coastal live oak.
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area. Small patch of coastal woodlands surrounded by coastal prairie at Woodlot Creation.
A migrant species that comes into the valley to breed. The male, obviously, is a real photo-op. This was taken at Tilley Creek Campgrounds, in Wofford Heights. In this image the plumage is a little worn. I should have gone out about a week earlier to get the bird in it's finest.
When nesting...
A migrant species that comes into the valley to breed. The male, obviously, is a real photo-op. This was taken at Tilley Creek Campgrounds, in Wofford Heights. In this image the plumage is a little worn. I should have gone out about a week earlier to get the bird in it's finest.
When nesting, it...