Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Another Plethora of Colour on the Vermilon River. A Post to WBW.

Male Evening Grosbeak.


If you have followed this blog for any amount of time, you're aware of the incredible colours associated with our wilderness forest. But some are just over the top, and the Evening Grosbeak takes the prize on that score. The female shown below is an absolute beauty, but the male is nature at her best. Evening is, of course, a misnomer. The name was applied by early settlers who first observed this bird in western Canada in the evening. From western Canada, the mountains to be exact, they spread east until about 1850 they were observed in Toronto. They travel in flocks and one of their main sources of food is the spruce bud worm which is devastating NA soft wood forests on an increasing scale, caused by global warming.

Male Grosbeak.


Male Grosbeak


They tend to travel in flocks which like Redpolls show up and then move on. Not only are they a most colourful addition to the forest, although these guys showed up at my feeders, but in summer their beaks change to green reflecting the colour of spruce. I find that incredible also!!

Male Grosbeak.


Close Up Of Green Beak.


Colourful Rear View.


This photo shows the colourful rear view of the male. And certainly with no need to apologize for colourful plumage, here is the female.

Female Grosbeak


Female Grosbeak.


Female Grosbeak.

As I said alone, she is a splendid example of nature's incredible colour skills.



A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/    

Just a quick note to acknowledge the problem with leaving notes on sites. I'm having the same problem with some sites. I think it's another Blogger hiccup.

28 comments:

  1. Great shots of this beautiful bird. I haven't seen one of these.

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  2. saw these on another blog this morning and saw your note that you had them too. they're just gorgeous birds! LOVE that pearly green beak!!!

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  3. Beautiful pictures of the birds, I think I have never seen one like this.

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  4. Nature is a genius to create such beautiful birds. It is interesting their beaks change color to green.
    In Nara, Japan, we also have serious problem. Some spices of trees are dying in large scale. Maybe because of global warming.
    Thank you for sharing fabulous photos. So beautiful!!

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  5. That's quite a beak they have!
    Lovely shots Gary.

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  6. I agree that nature is truly amazing!

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  7. Lovely shots of a fantastic bird!

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  8. Amazing series Gary! As bright and beautiful as the male is, the female of the species has a subtlety that I too find entrancing. I have never seen this bird in Michigan by the way. It is sad when we loose trees to some blight. I remember how quickly we lost the elms and ash trees. Now I hear the Blue spruce is in trouble. Devastating.
    Excellent, informative post as always Sir!
    (Plethora?!;-)

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  9. Wonderful Gary!! I really like the green beak, and had no idea this bird had one until viewing your photos.

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  10. Beautiful colours,,,a lovely bird to see.

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  11. Great photos of very colorful and beautiful birds.

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  12. I just love these birds, they are so colorful and pretty. Great shots!

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  13. Interesting, informative post! Those birds really are beautiful. Great captures!

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  14. So beautiful, coulorful birds! So many diferent spieces there is in our world, amazing! Great capture!

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  15. That really is some beak - reminds me of Hawfinches from the UK - like a normal finch, but on steroids!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  16. Wonderful and accurate shots of this beautiful bird, how beautiful ... Saludos.

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  17. Great shots, beautiful bird! Such colors...

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  18. Nice colorful fellow. A fellow blogger mentioned that unchecking the "keep me signed" in box on google might help with the comment problem. I tried it and so far it has worked like a charm.

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  19. Gary, Excellent! These photos are bird book worthy. I didn't know they had green bills either.I hope you will get some photos of the pairs babes. It is sad about the lost of trees.

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  20. Fantastic colours Gary. Not seen anything quite like that before.

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  21. You're so RiGht the colors of nature are splendid!! I think the female is such a beauty also. Great photos!

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  22. Pretty amazing bird that you have around your yard! Wow I'm jealous. Well done on this sets of pictures.

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  23. oh, yes, such a colorful bird. It is amazing. I wonder why our birds dont have those colors.

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  24. Beautiful photos, I love the Grosbeaks, they are fantastic.

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  25. Absolutely beautiful! Wonderful captures.

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  26. OMG,I just can't believe how beautiful they are!

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  27. Does a flock of them add up to a sunburst?

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  28. Great shots of the Evening Grosbeaks Gary! I am loving them too!

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