Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak, Spc. Name: Passerina Caerulea

Blue Grosbeak (F)

Medium size songbird, the male species have back, chest and shoulders intense blue, very bright. Their wings have brown edges and brown bars with some white and black borders. Conical beak black with lower part silvery color. Black mask covers around eyes and face.

Females grosbeak are similar in size and shape however the plumage colorations are quite different; in their case the body is mostly cinnamon brown with wings bars pale brown and dark brown. Their beak same as the males but they have no mask.

Blue Grosbeak (M)

Grosbeaks nest in shrubs, and eat seeds as well as insects. They are migratory birds. Living mostly in the Southern States of the USA.

They physically resemble the Northern Cardinals with exception of color.

"Hawks at a Distance" - Book Review

Hawks at a Distance”

Identification of Migrant Raptors

Written by Jerry Liguori

Book review:

“Mr. Liguori’s gargantuan task of identifying and describing to the maximum detail on the 29 species of raptors, as well as the pictorial at close visual and shape-distant identifying puts the perspective to a higher level, no pun intended. Complementing are proper uses of Terminology plus comprehensive Glossary, Migration Timetable and code of Ethics to be aware while birding.

This book “Hawks at a Distance” is an advanced study written by an authority in raptors. Mr. Liguori’s book is great to be read with attention and what you learn you will treasure  greatly if you are an active birder.”

_H. J. Ruiz -”My Backyard Visitors” & “My Winged Pals” Web Blogs

Book Publisher: Princeton Press

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird, sp. name: “Mimus Polyglottos”

Northern Mockingbirds are medium-sized songbirds, slender and with long tail. They have small heads with long thin bills with a hint of downward curve and long legs.

Their wings are short, rounded and broad.

Overall gray brown, paler on the breast and belly with two white wing-bars on each wing.

The white on the wings and tail become flashy in flight.

Their habitat: Towns, suburbs,backyards, parks, forest edges and open land. They love to sit conspicuously on high vegetation, fences, poles and other high points to observe from there. They are very aggressive when guarding their territory. Also are excellent imitators of other bird’s songs.

By my own observations on these birds y have noticed that once they pick a territory to set their nests they also become very possessive and zealous of what’s going on at the surroundings. They become the guardians of all the other nests and their inhabitants against birds not from the area.