464 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
206. Evening Grosbeak. MHesperiphona vespertina vespertina (Coop.). (514) 
Synonyms: Sugar-bird.—Fringilla vespertina, W. Cooper, 1825.—Coccothraustes 
vespertina, A. O. U. Check-list, 1886.—Hesperiphona vespertina of most recent authors. 
Figure 110. 
The male is a striking bird with immense bill, with black and white 
and old gold plumage, the yellow and black passing into each other through 
all the shades of brown, olive and buff. The female is largely drab-gray 
or ashy with little or no yellow and more white in the wings and tail. 
Distribution.—Western British Provinces, east to Lake Superior and 
casually to Michigan, Ohio, Ontario, New York and New England. 
The Evening Grosbeak is doubly interesting to Michigan bird lovers 
not only because it is a rare and beautiful bird, but because the first speci- 
men known'to science, the 
type from which the species 
was described, was taken 
near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., 
in April, 1823, by School- 
craft, and described by 
Cooper, in January, 1825, 
under the name Tf ringilla 
vespertina, the specific name 
given apparently under the 
belief that the bird sang 
oftenest or best at evening. 
As a matter of fact, the song 
appears to be the least inter- 
esting of its characteristics, 
nor does it appear to sing 
better or more frequently at 
evening than at other times. 
Mr. Stewart E. White, who 
observed these  grosbeaks 
carefully at Grand Rapids 
from March 5 to May 14, 
1890, says of their song: 
“The males have a single Fig. 110. Evening Grosbeak. Adult. 
metallic cry like the note of From North American Fauna No. 16. Biological Survey, 
a trumpet, the females a loud ies = Deparvinen tot a erleulyute 
chattering like the large Cherry Birds (Ampelis garrulus).’”” This was in 
March, but on April 14, just before they withdrew to their summer home, 
Mr. White adds, ‘“‘Their song now is a wandering, jerky warble, beginning 
low, suddenly increasing in power, and as suddenly ceasing as if the singer 
were out of breath” (Auk, Vol. IX, 1892, p. 245). 
It may be objected that this was not nesting time and the locality not 
home. However, J. K. Townsend, who studied this bird along the Columbia 
River in May 1836, wrote for Audubon’s work the following account of the 
call-note and song. ‘It is stated that they are retiring and silent during 
the day and sing only at the approach of evening. Here they are re- 
markably noisy during the whole of the day from sunrise to sunset. They 
then retire quietly to their roosts in the summits of the tall pines and are 
