Country Birder... and Butterflies

	Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  This beautiful songbird has a song similar to the American Robin, but much richer and more melodious.  The male and female of the species, both shown in this photo, are strikingly dissimilar.  The male is unmistakable with the black, white, and rose coloring.  The female, however, can be easily overlooked for a large finch or sparrow.  However, she's no less beautiful than the male. Central Indiana - May 18, 2008
	Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  The grosbeaks regularly visit the feeders in early spring, with the males more frequent than the females.  They prefer sunflower seeds over other seeds offered.  However, in each of the past couple seasons, they abruptly discontinued visiting the feeder by mid July.  Since they are breeding residents of Indiana only, spending their winters in Southern Mexico through Northern South America, it is possible that their disappearance from the feeders is caused by a shift in their diet needs or preferences coinciding with the height of breeding season or with preparation for migration.  In fact, according to Birds of North America Online from Cornell, dietary analysis does show that at the height of breeding season, the dietary intake does shift from roughly equal parts vegetable matter and animal matter, to predominantly animal matter (bees, moth larvae, beetles, etc.).  Central Indiana - June 22, 2007
	Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female. Central Indiana - May 18, 2008
	Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female. Central Indiana - May 18, 2008

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