Evening Grosbeak Report 12-18-2018

Finally, the most recent migration update for the Evening Grosbeaks as they make their way south! Even more exciting developments have happened this week. As predicted by Ron Pittaway in his annual "Winter Finch Forecast," Evening Grosbeaks have been on a slow progression southward. More have been showing up each week at different backyard feeders.

Here is what the most recent map of Ebird sightings looks like:

Some notable sightings this week include:

Orange County, North Carolina: (12-11-2018)

One male photographed and described as "perched on a platform feeder eating safflower seed, one day after a heavy snowfall."

Durham County, North Carolina: (12-16-2018)

One bird (male?) foraging among the (seed cones) of a Sycamore tree. I'm assuming the "seed cones" are actually the "seed balls" (see photograph below) produced by Sycamore trees and are a popular winter food among many species of finches (like the Evening Grosbeak), chickadees, squirrels, and Dark-Eyed Juncos, among other wildlife. I've provided photograph examples of a Sycamore Tree and the seed balls they produce. (Not my images; feel free to click on each image for more information from the original source of each photograph.)

Montgomery County, Tennessee: (12-13-2018)

One (female?) coming to a backyard black oil sunflower feeder. This bird was reported twice by two different people in one day, both checklists with excellent photographs.

Check back soon for the next Evening Grosbeak report! Next week is Christmas, so I may or may not get around to the report. As Winter settles over eastern North America, be on the lookout for these beautiful yellow birds at your feeders! While you still can, pick-up a copy of the December 2018 issue Birdwatching magazine. It has a great article about winter finches, including the elusive Evening Grosbeak.