I’d never seen a Black-headed Grosbeak until I’d moved to Utah. Saw a single quiet grosbeak in the shady switchback late last summer or in early fall, just for a moment. Impressive-looking bird that I knew nothing about.

Now, in deep spring, I feel like I know them fairly intimately. Not least because of the grosbeak nest I spotted about fifty paces from the trailhead where dog and I begin our daily hikes. From my observations, I’ve learned that both males and females will occupy the nest—and that this particular male often sings while sitting there in the leafy shade.

I’ve learned also that grosbeaks sing a lot—both sexes. (However, I haven’t yet seen any territorial skirmishes of the sort I’ve read about.) I know their song, of course—and their loud, staccato chip-note, which is similar to a Rose-breasted Grosbeak’s, but less squeaky.

Knowledge through observation: the most satisfying part of being a birder.

Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., I hiked about 1,200 feet up a mountain.

1. Song Sparrow (v)
2. Black-billed Magpie*
3. Black-chinned Hummingbird
4. Black-headed Grosbeak
5. Rock Pigeon*
6. Lazuli Bunting
7. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
8. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
9. Spotted Towhee
10. Black-capped Chickadee (v)
11. American Robin* (v)
12. House Finch*
13. Pine Siskin (v)
14. Chipping Sparrow (v)
15. Warbling Vireo
16. Black-throated Gray Warbler (v)
17. Orange-crowned Warbler (v)
18. Western Tanager (v)
19. Cliff Swallow
20. Lesser Goldfinch** (v)

Elsewhere

21. House Sparrow (v)
22. European Starling
23. Eurasian Collared Dove
24. California Quail

Mammals

Rock Squirrel (v)

(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere

Tags: American robin, black-billed magpie, black-capped chickadee, black-chinned hummingbird, black-headed grosbeak, black-throated gray warbler, blue-gray gnatcatcher, California quail, chipping sparrow, cliff swallow, Eurasian collared dove, European starling, house finch, house sparrow, lazuli bunting, lesser goldfinch, Orange-crowned Warbler, pine siskin, rock pigeon, rock squirrel, song sparrow, spotted towhee, warbling vireo, western tanager, Woodhouse’s scrub jay

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at 11:17 pm and is filed under Lists, Observations, Photo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.