BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



Range: Eastern North America and northern South America. 

 Breeds from southern Canada south to Kansas, Mis- 

 souri, Ohio, New Jersey, and in the mountains of 

 northern Georgia; winters from southern Mexico to 

 Colombia and Ecuador. 



SO beautiful is the rose-breasted grosbeak and so melo- 

 dious his song that he invariably attracts attention. 

 Upon clo'Se acquaintance, he reveals many interesting 

 habits and delightful traits. He is so useful that he re- 

 minds one of the occasional rare person who combines 

 practical qualities with beauty of form and face and un- 

 usual gifts. 



He is one of our most beneficial birds. Occasionally 

 he partakes of cultivated fruit and devours green peas, 

 but the slight mischief he is guilty of is greatly over- 

 balanced by the good he does. So fond is he of the Colo- 

 rado potato beetle that in some localities he is called the 

 "potato-bug bird." ^ Professor Beal tells of watching 

 grosbeaks near a potato-patch that was nearly riddled by 

 these destructive insects. He saw the parent-birds visit 

 the field repeatedly, and then bring their young when 

 able to fly. The brood perched in a row on the top rail 

 of the fence, and were fed so frequently that in a few 

 days the potato-bugs had entirely disappeared. The crop 

 was saved. 



Grosbeaks appear to lead unusually happy domestic 

 lives. Though the males fight for their mates, they guard 

 them and their young with great devotion. They not only 

 utter low sweet notes to the mother-bird as she broods, but 

 quite frequently take her place on the nest. 



My sister tells of hearing a rose-breast's song in a maple 



1 Fanners' Bulletin 513, Biological Survey, U, S. Dept. of Agricultiire. 



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