Pine Grosbeaks

[LeeKen]

They are in the Detroit Lake/Tamarac NWR area in force.

[eyeguy 54]

me likey

[Dbl]

They are pretty birds!

[ShawnZ]

Good work Leeken, and a nice collection of images too.

Glad you are getting nice chances with some males of the species.

Such a pretty bird!

[northerndave]

Cool, makes me want to go buy some bird seed.

[R. Miller]

Great pics.

[LeeKen]

On 12/5 ShawnZ wrote-

"It's an oversimplification to say that these are female birds just because they are not the pink/red of the adult males. Pine grosbeak males can take a couple of years to develop the "classic" adult male appearance. It is often difficult to seperate young males from female birds. Close inspection is required. The more you observe, the more variation you will see. Some of my favorite males are one's that are just beginning to show pinkish plumage in the tail rump and scapular areas, with a blush on the head plumage too"

I noticed in the group picture the two birds in back are both starting to show pink. I would have assumed that they were females. Thanks Shawn for that bit of knowledge.