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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
The male of this species is always popular with bird lovers, for he is very handsome, is always cheerful and has a beautiful song. The female is popular too with those who know her, but she is dressed so differently from her mate and so inconspicuously, like a big sparrow, that she is seldom noticed. The Grosbeak song is similar to, but readily The eggs are pale greenish-blue blotched with reddish brown. distinguished from and of better character than that of the Robin. His song is always preceded by a sharp chip, usually about two seconds before the song proper commences. The Grosbeak nest is rather rudely and scantily constructed of rootlets. It is normally placed in bushes or small trees from six to fifteen feet up. They, however, frequent- She looks like a big sparrow, -not at all like her beautiful mate. ly make their homes within city limits and in such cases often build high up in large trees. The four eggs are greenish-blue, covered with brown spots.
The male grosbeak is considered, especially by the ladies, as a model bird-husband. He does at least half the work in constructing the home and he sits upon the eggs about as often and as long as his mate does. He is of a jovial disposition and likes his task so well that he commonly sings while sitting on the nest. I have located a number of their nests by searching for the singer. His song, when thus engaged is usually much lower in tone, as though he feared Fig. 109. Male Grosbeak with food for his tiny little ones. he would disclose the hiding place of the home, but he must sing anyway I have often seen it stated that the female grosbeak sings, too, but I have never seen one do so. The year-old males , but I have never seen one do so. The year-old males very closely resemble the female in plumage. Probably it is the songs of these young males that are often accredited to the females.
I was delighted on one day in June wher I happened to come across a Grosbeak nest at an elevation of only about four feet from the ground. Here was the opportunity I had been awaiting and I could, in imagination, see a whole series of beautiful pictures illustrating the home life of grosbeaks. life of grosbeaks. Alas! The best of plans go astray. 1 happened to have my camera with me when the nest was discovered and, as the female was at the time sitting on her eggs, I carefully moved up to within about four feet, focussed the camera and made an exposure of her. The next day I took my tent and complete outfit in order to get a good series of her approaching the nest. Not a sign of nest or eggs was in sight. Undoubtedly my "find" was found by some youthful oologist and the grosbeak nest and eggs wen to grace (or disgrace) his cabinet.
