Bird of the Week

[Photo by Michael Warren]

More than 300 bird species have been recorded by birdwatchers in Marion County, according to eBird, the popular app from Cornell University. That includes extreme rarities as well as ordinary cardinals, crows and chickadees. The blue grosbeak is somewhere in between—not rare, but not a typical backyard bird. This handsome, big-beaked bird breeds here during the summer and typically hangs out at the edge of forests with low vegetation. The males are deep blue and the females are a warm brown.  This one was photographed on the Florida Trail near the Rotary Sportsplex. See more at michaelwarren.com/birds