WESTERN BIRDS Grosbeak 



but notices. It is probably this big bill which gives the 

 bird a heavy, clumsy look. In some of them, also, the 

 head is flatter, seeming almost to be a continuation of 

 the beak. 



The Evening Grosbeak is about eight inches long and 

 plump of body. His forehead and line, over eye, rump, 

 and under tail coverts are yellow; the crown, wings and 

 tail are black, the wings have a large patch of white 

 and smaller one of yellow near the body (scapulars) ; 

 upper parts olive-brown; under parts greenish-yellow, 

 with under wing coverts a brighter yellow; tail deeply 

 notched and bill greenish-yellow; the prevailing color of 

 the female is yellowish-brown, lighter underneath, yel- 

 lowish on rump; throat bordered by dusky; wings and 

 tail black with white markings. The young resemble 

 the female. 



These handsome birds are dwellers of the far north, 

 only coming down into this country during the winter 

 months, when in small flocks (sometimes large ones) 

 they invade the northern Mississippi Valley, and wan- 

 der to the North Atlantic States. They are wonderfully 

 tame birds, seeming to know no fear of mankind. They 

 are very fond of seeds and buds of trees; elder, maple, 

 and box elder being favorites. Chapman says that the 

 song is given as a wandering, jerky warble, beginning 

 low, suddenly increasing in power, and as suddenly 

 ceasing, as though the singer were out of breath. The 

 call note has been given as a shrill cheepy-teet, as a 

 frog-like peep. 



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