Day 198: The yard is once again full of Porch Parrots. A few over-wintered, as is their custom, and now they have been joined by the larger flock. They'll soon be followed by an influx of Black-headed Grosbeaks, one of which was scouting the feeders yesterday. The Evening Grosbeak is not a true Grosbeak, its genome more closely allied to the Finches. You will find it listed as Coccothraustes vespertinus in most current field guides. However, the International Ornithologists' Union now puts the bird in Hesperiphona alongside the Hooded Grosbeak (a Mexican/Central American species), in a taxonomic shift which is in line to achieve universal acceptance. On the other hand, Black-headed Grosbeaks belong to Pheucticus (true Grosbeaks), as do their cousins Rose-breasted and Yellow, neither of which occur in western Washington. Nor does Blue Grosbeak (another true Grosbeak, Passerina caerulea) visit our area. As much as it delights me that we are learning more about many species through genetic analysis, it sure does make it hard to keep up!
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