Field Notes

Sandy Leaptrott
116. by Sandy Leaptrott on May 13, 2012 at 05:29 pm

This is the third year (2010, 2011 and 2012) I have observed Black-headed Grosbeak males in what I would describe as a lek at Salish Pond. Observed four adult males displaying for one female. Males singing and displaying for female from unusually open perches. Males singing from top of dead trees and area free of foliage below the crown of large old willow. Males chasing each other. Female resting on large willow branch preening.

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Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this occasionally, confident.

Dave Irons
reply by Dave Irons on May 13, 2012 at 11:22 pm

This is something that I will have to look for, as I have not noticed this behavior. This is definitely an interesting observation.

Dave Irons
10. by Dave Irons on August 15, 2010 at 06:27 pm

This species is a molt migrant, thus it does not complete its pre-basic molt before initiating southbound migration. Many birds migrate a short distance and stop when they find a stable food supply, where they will remain until their prebasic molt is completed and migration resumes. In late summer (mid-July to mid-August) it is not uncommon for this species to show up in residential areas where they do not breed and remain there for a period of weeks. Most will be gone by the 1st of September. At one house, we allowed volunteer sunflowers to grow in abundance and each summer we would get 8-10 Black-headed Grosbeaks hanging around the yard in late summer. This migration/molt strategy occurs in several species that breed in the interior of western North America where late summers tend to be dry and early summer food sources tend to get depleted.

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Citation: Personal Experience. I observe this regularly, highly confident.

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Sightings

Date Submitted By Count
08/07/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
08/07/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/24/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/24/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/17/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/17/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/10/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/10/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/03/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
07/03/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
06/26/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
06/26/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
06/19/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
06/19/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #
06/19/18 Steven Mauvais, OR #

Recent Activity

Activity Date & Time
Maya Mudd added Black-headed Grosbeak to their Hillsdale smart list 6/04/2012 at 10:50PM
Keith K. added Black-headed Grosbeak to their Hillsdale, OR smart list 5/13/2012 at 9:14PM
Sandy Leaptrott added a note to Black-headed Grosbeak Notes 5/13/2012 at 5:29PM
Jacob Parks added Black-headed Grosbeak to their Log House smart list 11/02/2011 at 12:35AM
Dave Irons added a Behavior note to Black-headed Grosbeak Behavior Notes 8/15/2010 at 6:27PM