THE PINE GROSBEAK 



bles his cousin, the purple finch, in color and markings, 

 but is much larger. 



Thoreau says, "When some rare northern bird like the 

 pine grosbeak is seen thus far south in the winter, he does 

 not suggest poverty, but dazzles us with his beauty. 

 There is in them a warmth akin to the warmth that melts 

 the icicle. Think of these brilliant, warm-colored, and 

 richly-warbling birds, birds of paradise, dainty-footed, 

 downy-clad, in the midst of a New England, a Canadian 

 winter." ^ 



The Pine Grosbeak "is of gentle, unobtrusive manner, 

 almost entirely fearless of man's approach, and always 

 seems to be perfectly contented with its situation wher- 

 ever encountered. A whole tree full of these birds may 

 be seen feeding on the seeds of mountain ash berries, ap- 

 ples, or the buds of beeches. One may stand within a few 

 feet of them for a long time without their taking any no- 

 tice of one's presence. They are slow and deliberate in 

 manner. Their flight, however, is rather rapid and ag- 

 gressive, slightly undulating." ^ 



They are silent, uninteresting birds, awkward in their 

 movements. They are very hardy, and roam southward 

 when the severe Canadian winters send them forth in search 

 of food. Seeds of cone-bearing trees, sumac and moun- 

 tain ash berries are their favorite winter diet. They re- 

 turn to their northern nesting places when few birds would 

 consider it seemly to set up housekeeping. 



1 From ''Notes on New England Birds," H. D. Thoreau, page 421. 



2 From Eaton's "Birds of New York," page 255. 



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