THE PINE GROSBEAK. - 
General Range.—Northeastern and central-northern North America, breed- 
ing from northern New England northward nearly to the limit of trees; south 
in winter irregularly into the upper tier of the eastern states,—New England, 
Wisconsin, etc. 
Range in Ohio.—A rare winter visitor. 
ANOTHER of our rarer winter birds, whose occasional visits serve only 
to stimulate a desire on our part for a closer acquaintance, is the Pine Grosbeak, 
It is almost exclusively a bird of the deep pine forests, so it is not to be wondered 
at that it so seldom ventures into our state. While found more commonly in 
Pennsylvania and regularly in New England, it breeds only from the northern 
portions of the latter region northward. Like many another woodland recluse 
the Pine Grosbeak often appears dazed when it encounters civilization and 
may not infrequently be taken with butterfly nets or even with the hand. It is 
on record that the markets of Boston were abundantly supplied one winter with 
these birds. It was, of course, in the early days (1835), when the Puritan 
stomach was less influenced by sentimental considerations. Or it was perhaps 
before a higher use had been found for them, namely, to decorate ladies’ 
bonnets. 
Altho such a timid recluse, with little of the savor faire of the world, the 
Pine Grosbeak is a born poet and dispenses sweetest music to his neighbors in 
the Laurentian wilds. ‘The song is described as “‘clear, sweet and flowing, like 
that of the Purple Finch,” but stronger, of course, as becomes the larger size. 
The food habits of this species are as yet imperfectly known. ‘They are 
known at least to eat small fruit of all sorts with avidity, and specimens obtained 
in the far Northwest were found to have fared exclusively upon poplar buds. 
When with us mountain ash trees are sure to be visited, and cedar berries, when 
obtainable, are very welcome. 
It is noteworthy also that the southward moving flocks of winter are com- 
posed almost exclusively of young males and sombre-colored females, while the 
older males remain for the most part 1n their northern homes. 
