Pinicola enucleator
Perhaps one of the great moments in the long Rocky Mountain winter is when the Pine Grosbeaks emerge from the wilds to settle upon backyard feeders. There they might remain for the entire winter, or, like their erratic irruptive pattern, disappear for months. The prize when out 'pining' for grosbeaks is the sight of a mature male. Search the tops of spruce and pine trees; the spires are favorite perching sites for this grosbeak. The male's splendid red plumage strikes a vivid contrast against the snow and spruce bows. Cold human residents and winter visitors to the Rockies can be soothed somewhat by the soft warbles these snowbirds sing during the coldest days. Pinicola is Latin for 'pine dweller,' and enucleator is Latin for 'one who takes off shells.' |
I.D.: General: stout, conical, dark bill; white wing bars; black wings and tail. Male: rosy red head, underparts and upperparts. Female and Immature: rusty crown, face and rump; ashy gray back and underparts. Size: L 8-10 in. (20-25 cm). Range: fairly common year-round resident in the Canadian Rockies; increasingly scarce year-round southward. Habitat: Summer: subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce forests in the upper subalpine. Fall to spring: townsites, spruce-fir forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands in the foothills and the montane. Nesting: in a conifer or tall shrub; bulky cup nest is loosely made of twigs, moss, grass, lichens and fur; female incubates 4 eggs for 13-15 days. Feeding: gleans buds, berries and seeds from trees; also forages on the ground; visits feeding stations in winter. Voice: song is a short, musical warble. Similar Species: White-winged Crossbill: much smaller; lacks the stubby bill. Evening Grosbeak: female has a light-colored bill and broad, white wing patches. |
