IBRC 76-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
HOW MANY: one - hatch year

REPORTER: Terry Gray 890 Stefany Lane Moscow ID 83843
REPORTER EMAIL: clgtlg@moscow.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: Louise LaVoie [llavoie@clearwire.net]

DATE REPORT PREPARED: September 19, 2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: September 18,2010

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Lewiston Idaho 3316 16th Street Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Habitat Area
HABITAT: Wildlife Habitat Area
CONDITIONS: 10 to 15 minutes. Clear fall day with tems in the lower 70's F. Observation was between 10 and 15 feet away and the bird was about 10 feet up in a tree. Observed this bird with binoculars and digital camera.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, later the same day
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, another day after the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibleys, Birds of Western North America A photographic Guide by Paul Sterry & Brian E. Small. National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America.

DESCRIPTION: Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus. The bird was at first called a Black-headed Grosbeak but after my photos were placed on flickr a good discussion started suggesting that the bird was actually a hatchyear Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The most obvious difference in these two species is that a Black-headed Grosbeak has some fine streaks on the breast and are absent in the center of the breast. This bird has sonsistant streaking across the entire breast.
BEHAVIOR: When this bird was observed it was just resting and did not feed or have any interaction with other birds. There were at least four other species in the same tree but were never close to the grosbeak.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? Since this is also a life bird I had doubts about what was being said about this bird as it was being discussed on my photo site.What was bothering me the most is that the upper mandible was somewhat dark but afer finally looking at National Geographics illustrations and also discussion that hatch year grosbeak (Rose-Breasted) can have a somewhat bi-colored look to them until following spring when the bill will become an obvious pale bill. The clincher to me after that was resolved is that this bird does have coarse streaks that continue across the breast. I have photos I will send that show this.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? The similar species I finally eliminated was the Black-headed Grosbeak. Main difference is the HY Black-headed Grosbeak has fine streaks weak or absent on the center of the breast where the Rose-breasted Grosbeak has coarse streaks that continue across the breast.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I see a lot of Black-headed Grosbeak during the summer and have had adults and HY individuals ocme to my feeder that I have photographed but this is a new species for me and a learning experience with the discussion that has taken place at my photo site concerning the identificaiton of this bird.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been an active birder for over 10 years and lead birding field trips for both Palouse Audubon Society and Canyon Birders in the Moscow and Lewiston, Idaho area.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo