Black-headed Grosbeak in Rhode Island

[msmichellelynn]

On Sunday, 12/7/08 I discovered a Black-headed Grosbeak in Charlestown, RI. There were only 4 confirmed sightings of this bird in Rhode Island prior to my sighting, the earliest in the 1950's and the last being in 1987.
There is some confusion as to the sex and plumage of this bird. Fortunately I'm a photographer and I captured some good images of the Grosbeak. Here's a link ...

http://picasaweb.google.com/michellelynnsts/BlackHeadedGrosbeak#

I'd love to hear some feedback as to the gender and plumage of this bird. It shows some streaking on the flanks and also some yellow in the belly. There has been some debate among the RI Birding Community concerning this matter.

I can be reached at parula@cox.net

Regards,

Michelle St.Sauveur
Coventry, RI

[Brian S]

An interesting conumdrum. Is it an adult female or immature male? I have tried to do a big search on pbase for images and came up with the following, but this is hindered by the fact that photographers seem to stop photographing BhG in August and their labelling seems well off in some. This is what I came up with:-

http://www.pbase.com/image/89279826 - a young male?

http://www.pbase.com/noreaster/blackheaded_grosbeak - imm male

http://www.pbase.com/image/79443539 - imm m

http://www.pbase.com/image/60493119 - br fm

http://www.pbase.com/merigan/blackheaded_grosbeak (http://www.pbase.com/merigan/blackheaded_grosbeak)- various (first image looks weird)

http://www.pbase.com/pattonpix/black_headed_grosbeak (http://www.pbase.com/pattonpix/black_headed_grosbeak)- interesting images from Feb, much paler underneath than yours

http://www.pbase.com/image/101388661 (http://www.pbase.com/image/101388661)- a male from August (poss a young bird), showing unstreaked underparts

http://www.pbase.com/image/79165994 - labelled as fm but poss a young male

http://www.pbase.com/image/20896292 - surely a young male

Based on these, I am not going to be able to help a lot, but perhaps on fm the black crown tends to be more obscured by brown fringes; on imm males there is minimal streaking present on the very sides of the breast and rear flanks, but really is minimal; should the colour on the rump be less on females?

Brian S

[msmichellelynn]

I did that search too Brian and am still a bit stumped. The bird seems to have characteristics of both but because of the rich orange color on the breast and belly, I'm leaning toward immature male. Thanks for taking some time with this.

Regards,

Michelle

PS ... This bird has caused quite an uproar in just being here. People are coming from miles around and from neighboring states.

[Brian S]

Michelle

Yes, sorry, first-winter male for me too.

Brian S

[JanJ]

The flight pic. of the Black-headed Grosbeak, which it looks like, shows pointed t-feathers and moult contrast between coverts and primary coverts - which would suggest a bird of the year, thus a first winter male.
Variable species and hybrids do occur (I´m not suggesting hybrid)

http://www.westol.com/~banding/Fall2004_BHGR.html

JanJ

[msmichellelynn]

Thanks Brian and Jan for responding. I've talked with others who agree with you. This bird was seen again on Wednesday so it looks like it'll be around for a while.

Regards,

Michelle

[AndyB]

interesting possible hybrid here:
http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=11