Talk:Black-headed grosbeak

Range

There is a contradiction between the statement that this species is accidental south of Mexico and the map which shows both the breeding and wintering ranges apparently extending beyond the southern boundary of the map.

The comments seem to be taken from Stiles and Skutch. Perhaps the range has expanded since the guide was published? Nicaraguan Grackle and Melodious Blackbird, for example, are both now resident in Costa Rica. Any thoughts?jimfbleak 10:33, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

Range map should include Southern Vancouver Island see www.askbud.ca/black_headed_grosbeak.htm. D A Patriarche (talk) 03:36, 17 February 2013 (UTC)

Hybridization

anecdote moved from article- jimfbleak 05:26, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

As stated above under Range and Migration, Black-headed and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks interbreed in the Great Plains where their ranges now overlap due to deforestation. The hybrids are apparently fertile. One appeared at our feeder in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. It is unlikely that one first-generation hybrid made a journey of more than one thousand miles across multiple climate zones in a direction at right angles to normal seasonal migration routes. This individual had the markings of a Black-headed on one complete side and the markings of a Rose-breasted on the other. It wasn't until we saw him turn that we realized we were not seeing two different birds. If this coloration is common in hybrids they would be difficult to notice and their numbers could be underestimated.

It is possible that the specimen we observed was the offspring of a local bird and an escaped captive Rose-breasted Grosbeak, although to my knowledge the species is not popular in aviculture