Birds of the Sierra: Black-headed Grosbeak

Experiencing a dawn chorus in the forests of the Sierra Nevada is a soul-stirring experience I wish everyone could appreciate.  Snuggled in a downy sleeping bag, the first rays of golden light peek over mountain ridges and pick their way through conifer boughs, sending streaks of color through the gray pre-dawn sky.  At the first signs of dawn, diurnal songbirds begin to stir, a chorus of glorious birdsong beginning quietly and gradually growing to fill the trees with earth's sweetest music.

And one of the key musicians of this dawn chorus is the Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus), a handsome black-and-orange bird, with a sturdy bill and sweet song. 


Like the Western Tanager, the Black-headed Grosbeak is a member of the Cardinal family (Cardinalidae).  They are birds of western forests, where they inhabit high treetops, gleaning insect prey from foliage.  In the winter, Black-headed Grosbeaks retreat to the warmer climes of Central America, passing through my Central Valley haunts during migration. 


While thousands of tourists flock to Yosemite Valley during the summer months, I prefer less crowded reaches of woods to fully appreciate a good dawn chorus.  Favorite places to hike, camp, and see and hear Black-headed Grosbeaks (along with plenty of other forest birds) without being pressed by throngs of people include the high country portions of Yosemite National Park, Sonora Pass and the Kennedy Meadows area, and Ebbetts Pass and the Lake Alpine area.

Comments

  1. Garry HayesJuly 5, 2018 at 9:31 PM

    They are beautiful birds. I got some nice pictures of a female this morning on the Parkway trail in Waterford.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Siera NystromJuly 6, 2018 at 10:52 AM

    So I guess they do stay around here in the summer - at least a few, and in riparian areas! Neat!

    ReplyDelete

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