SPARROWS 
381 
Economic Status. The cardinal feeds largely upon locusts, cicadas, 
potato bugs, rose chafers, plum and cherry scales, cutworms, weevils, and 
other destructive pests. In addition, it takes weed seeds in considerable 
amount and some wild fruit. There is no evidence that it damages culti- 
vated fruit. 
595. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, le gros-bec a poitrine rose. Hedymeles ludo- 
vicianus. L, S-12. Plate LXXVI B. Spring male: tail, wings, back, head, and neck 
black, with conspicuous white patches on wings, rump, and tail; breast rose-red; below 
pure white. The female is an altogether different looking bird, with its typical sparrow- 
like striping above in dull olive-brown and pale ochres; below, white, sharply striped on 
breast and flanks. Autumn males are similar to the female, but warmer in general colour 
and with an undercolouring of rose on breast. In any plumage with large, light-coloured 
bill (Figure 46b). 
Distinctions. The spring male, with black back and head, flashing white-spotted 
wings and tail, and brilliant red bib, is unmistakable. The female resembles a Purple 
Finch in the olive plumage, but is obviously larger, much more contrastive in colour, and 
the underparts are purer white. Still more likely to be confused with the female of the 
Black-headed Grosbeak in the few regions where both species may occur. They resemble 
each other in nearly every detail of colour distribution and size, but the female Rose- 
breasted is decidedly duller in general tone and the breast is whiter and more obviously 
streaked (Compare with Plate LXXVII A). Juvenile and autumn males can always be 
recognizee! by having rose underwing-coverts. 
Field Marks. The flashing black and white of the male with its conspicuous rose- 
coloured bib is always easily recognized. The female may be mistaken for the female 
Purple Finch, except for its larger size, whiter or more buffy underparts, with sparser 
stripings, white wing-bars, and, especially, its much more distinct light line over the eye. 
It is doubtful if it can always be satisfactorily known from the female Black-headed Gros- 
beak in life. 
Nesting. In bushes or trees, 5 to 20 feet from ground, in poorly built nests of fine 
twigs, weed stalks, and rootlets. _ . 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Canada, west to the base of the mountains 
and north to Athabaska Lake, 
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of our most beautiful birds, and 
with a very pleasing song much like that of a Robin. In the autumn its 
most frequent note is a curt, metallic “klip” that will often attract atten- 
tion when it is hiding in dense foliage. It prefers tangled thickets and large 
trees, interspersed with open spaces. It frequents thickets along rivers, 
edges of woodland clearings, and sometimes orchards. 
Economic Status. If the number of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks could 
be greatly increased on the farms the potato-bug scourge would soon 
disappear. This bird is one of the few that eats potato-beetles, and it takes 
them in both adult and larval stages. One-tenth of the contents of the 
stomachs examined consisted of potato-bugs, and against other insect 
pests this species is even more effective. To increase the numbers of Rose- 
breasted Grosbeaks may be difficult, but the next best thing is to conserve 
what we have, protect them from preventable destruction, and see that 
suitable nesting corners are left in waste corners of the farm and wood- 
lot. In carrying out plans for clean cultivation and the elimination of 
waste places, care should be taken that bits of shrubbery are left to afford 
shelter for birds which without these sanctuaries must disappear. The 
preservation of the birds will more than compensate for the small losses 
entailed. 
596. Black-headed Grosbeak, le gros-bec 1 t£te noire. Hedymeles melano- 
cephalus. L, 8-10. Plate LXXVII A. Male: head, face, wings, and tail, with a broken 
saddle across shoulders, black. Conspicuous white patches on wing and in tail. Throat, 
76916—25 
