Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Check out the size of this birds beak and you will immediately see why they are called “large beaked” from the French word gros, which means large. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are “neotropical migrants”, they nest in the Northern Hemisphere and migrate to the American tropics to winter. One October when we were visiting our daughter in Costa Rica we were surprised when the arrival of the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak was cause for excitement. Many tropical birds seem seem unhurried as they sit quietly and make short forays out to grab food. Watching the grosbeaks at our feeder when they return in May reminds me very much of tropical birds, which they are, they just come here to nest.

The original has been sold, but this image is available as a Limited Edition Print. See below for more information.

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