Black Grosbeak, male

Description:

American Robin size (8"). Dark head, rich rusty sides. Wings were jet black with prominent wing bars. Lower belly white. Conical bill for seed-eating. My guides showed a rusty stripe from the neck going to the eye. I don't thing my male had this.

Habitat:

Zion National Park, Large grassy area in front of the large visitor's center. Put on quite a show for us, as tired as we were. He kept flying up into a tree for a minute or two, then right back down again to the same spot. Virtually ignored the throngs of people everywhere.

Notes:

I liked Zion better than the Grand Canyon. I also saw an American Dipper down by "The Narrows", but it whizzed by so fast I couldn't get a shot. Both this handsome male Grosbeak and the Dipper were "lifers" for me, and avid lister!