MOURC Proceedings Archive - Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks Accepted
Duplicates
This is the 1981 to present Records Committee Proceedings archive for
The Loon, journal of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union.
The last 2 years are available to MOU members.
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Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks

Proceedings
Species: Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Western Tanager
[Pyrrhuloxia]
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Dickcissel

Black-headed Grosbeak (C) (Pheucticus melanocephalus)Start Date 0000-00-00
RefFirstLastLocationCounty23CommentStatus
19:1041947indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Bemidji
1MOU1947-08-11BemidjiBeltramiThe Flicker 19:104Accepted
2MOU1967-07-151967-08-09Mendota HeightsDakotaThe Loon 39:130Accepted
avian
information
1967-07-151967-08-09Dakota7/15-8/9 Dakota (first state record) (first county record)
mid July to Aug. 9, Mendota Heights, Da kota Co., one adult male came regularly to feeder of Bernard Friel; seen feeding a young grosbeak on 8-6 by HFH; photo graphed in color; first verified state rec ord.
44:121-1221972indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Dakota County
3MOU1972-04-191972-04-26West St. PaulDakotaThe Loon 44:79 The Loon 44:121Accepted
avian
information
1972-04-191972-04-26Dakota4/19-26 Dakota (second state record) (second county record)
avian
information
1972-07-01Dakota7/1 Dakota (third state record) (third county record)
45:64-651973indexHybrid Rose-breasted-Black-headed Grosbeak
46:116-1171974indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Freeborn County
46:1171974indexMore Black-headed Grosbeak Reports
47:1391975indexBlack-headed Grosbeak Seen in Rock County
51:164-1691979indexWas it a Black-headed Grosbeak?
454:421981-10-181981-10-25Grand MaraisCook(vote 7-0, Loon 54:61-62) Accepted
avian
information
1981-10-191981-10-25Cook10/19-25 Cook (fourth state record) (first county record)
10-19 thru 10-25 Cook KMH, KE, JB, RG, DGW, SDM. ;
54:61-621982indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Grand Marais
554:411982-10-101982-10-11Encampment ForestLake(vote 61) Accepted
avian
information
1982-10-101982-10-11Lake10/10-11 Lake (fifth state record) (first county record)
One report: 10/ 10 Lake J. Savage.
avian
information
1983-05-051983-05-11Carver5/5, 11 Carver (sixth state record) (first county record)
55:931983indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Carver County
655:1171983-05-11ChanhassenCarver(vote 6-1 ; Loon 55:93) Accepted
56:171983-08-041983-08-06RosevilleRamsey(vote 2-5) The details included no description of the bird; all that was said was that "the bird looked exactly like the bird in The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds"i.e., an adult female Blackheaded. But it is never enough to say a bird looked just like in a book, since a deSpring 1984 scription of the bird being reported (not the one in a book) is always required for any unusual record; with relatively inexperienced observers especially, there is always too great a possibility of a field guide misleading and influencing what was actually seen . Not Accepted
56:171983-08-08RosevilleRamsey(vote 2-5) A photo of this individual (possibly the same one seen Aug. 4-6) suggests an adult female Black-headed Grosbeak , but the bird is most likely a juvenile male Rosebreasted which , although not adequately stressed in the field guides, often appears relatively unstreaked and buffy below and is frequently and easily mistaken for the Black-headed Grosbeak . Not Accepted
56:1961984indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in St. Paul
756:1601984-05-24St. PaulRamsey(vote 7-0; The Loon 56:196). Accepted
avian
information
1984-05-24Ramsey5/24 Ramsey (seventh state record) (first county record)
One report 5/24 Ramsey R. Skarjune and L. Treeful (The Loon 56:196).
58:1401986indexBlack-headed Grosbeak at Blue Mounds
858:1461986-05-24Blue Mounds State ParkRock(vote 7-0; The Loon 58:140). Accepted
avian
information
1986-05-24Rock5/24 Rock (eighth state record) (first county record)
5/24 Rock Mike Mulligan (The Loon 58:140).
59:571986-05-26AndoverAnoka(vote 2-5). Although the description seemed to indicate Black-headed Grosbeak and no other species, the main problem with the record was that the observers were unaware that the species was unusual since they claimed to have seen the species twice before in Minnesota , but did not report them , in 1983 and 1984. The majority , therefore, felt it most unlikely that someone could have seen this accidental species three times in three years in the state . Not Accepted
61:101988-09-17MinneapolisHennepin(vote 0-7). The identification of this presumed female was based only on the "mostly" unstreaked "golden yellow" underparts; however, juvenile male Rose-breasteds can also match this pattern, and it is necessary to observe the color of the under wing linings to separate these two . Not Accepted
961:1211988-11-181988-11-26AitkinAitkin(vote 7-0; The Loon 61:4748). Accepted
avian
information
1988-11-181988-11-26Aitkin11/18-26 Aitkin (ninth state record) (first county record)
11/11-26 Aitkin, Aitkin Co. m.ob. (The Loon 61:47-48).
61:47-481989indexA Black-headed Grosbeak in Aitkin
61:841989indexFirst Black-headed Grosbeak Record for Southeastern Minnesota
61:1401989indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Lac Qui Parle County
1061:1211989-05-06O.L. Kipp S.PWinona(vote 7-0; The Loon 61 :84). Accepted
avian
information
1989-05-06Winona5/6 Winona (eleventh state record) (first county record)
5/6 Winona TH, (The Loon 61:84), 5/11 Lac qui Parle CMB.
1162:121989-05-111989-05-26Cerro Gordo Twp.Lac qui Parle(vote 6-1; The Loon 61:140). Accepted
avian
information
1989-05-111989-05-26Lac qui Parle5/11-26 Lac qui Parle (tenth state record) (first county record)
5/6 Winona TH, (The Loon 61:84), 5/11 Lac qui Parle CMB.
62:121989-08-19BlaineAnoka(vote 2-5). This identification of a female Black-headed was based entirely on the "more golden" and only lightly streaked breast. However, juvenile male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks can also fit this pattern at this time of year, and the color of the underwing linings (the only diagnostic difference between these two) would have to be noted for such a record to be accepted . Not Accepted
64:231-2321992indexBlack-headed Grosbeak at Bemidji
1265:331992-04-151992-04-16BemidjiBeltrami(vote 5-2; The Loon 64:231-232). Accepted
avian
information
1992-04-15Beltrami4/15 Beltrami (twelfth state record) (first county record)
Reported 4/16 Beltrami AEM (The Loon 64:231–232).
65:1591993indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Jackson County
65:1461993-05-081993-05-16Pomroy L.Kanabec(vote 25). Since separation of female grosbeaks, which are variable in plumage, is often difficult, a complete and careful description is necessary to document this species. Though the relatively unstreaked and orangish underparts of this bird were noted, its supercilium was described as whiter than those of the Rose-breasteds with it, while female Black-headeds tend to have buffier superciliums. Not Accepted
1366:431993-06-09near Heron LakeJackson(vote 6-1; The Loon 65:159). Accepted
avian
information
1993-06-09Jackson6/9 Jackson (thirteenth state record) (first county record)
The fourth summer record for Minnesota; a single bird identified on 6/9 near Heron Lake, Jackson Co. ES (The Loon 65:159).
66:1551994indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Lac Qui Parle County
1466:1271994-05-13BoydLac qui Parle(The Loon 66:155). Accepted
avian
information
1994-05-131994-05-16Lac qui Parle5/13-16 Lac qui Parle (fourteenth state record) (second county record)
Reported 5/13 Boyd, Lac qui Parle Co. FE (The Loon 66:155).
67:1821995indexBlack-headed Grosbeak at Moorhead
1567:1651995-05-17MoorheadClay(The Loon 67:182). Accepted
avian
information
1995-05-17Clay5/17 Clay (fifteenth state record) (first county record)
One report 5/17 Moorhead, Clay Co. SM, GN et al. (The Loon 67:182).
1669:281996-05-20Roseau(photo record). There is no written description of this bird, with the only documentation consisting of photographs which are not clearly identifiable; however, they appear to be of a male Baltimore Oriole. Accepted
1770:1561997-05-24UlenClay(photo record #98-28, vote 7–0. Accepted
avian
information
1997-05-241997-05-27Clay5/24, 27 Clay (second county record)
5/24 Clay TBr. [Corrected]
1871:1561999-05-13Middletown Twp.Jackson(record #99-20, vote 6–1). Accepted
avian
information
1999-05-13Jackson5/13 Jackson (second county record)
Only report: 5/13 Jackson (female at Anderson County Park) PS (The Loon 71:237–238).
1972:1642000-05-13CottonwoodLyon(record #2000-34, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2000-05-13Lyon5/13 Lyon (first county record)
Only documented report: 5/13 Lyon (female in Cottonwood) †PE (The Loon 72:140).
2073:352000-10-212000-10-23Two HarborsLake(record #2000-87, vote 5–2). Accepted
avian
information
2000-10-212000-10-23Lake10/21-23 Lake (second county record)
Female seen 10/21–23 Lake (Two Harbors) †JWL, †PHS.
2173:1682001-05-10White Earth LakeBecker(record #2001-33, vote 7–0). Accepted
avian
information
2001-05-10Becker5/10 Becker (first county record)
Male at feeder 5/10 Becker (Maple Grove Twp.) †BRK.
74:240-2412002indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Moorhead, Clay County
2276:392002-05-15VestaRedwood(record #2003-74, vote 6–1). This male was photographed by the homeowners at their feeders. Accepted
avian
information
2002-05-15Redwood5/15 Redwood (first county record)
Male at feeder 5/24–26 Clay (Moorhead) †RHO, ph. DDM, †PHS, m.ob. (The Loon 74:240–241).
2375:412002-05-242002-05-26MoorheadClay(record #2002-52, vote 7–0, The Loon 74:240–241). As with the Black-throated Sparrow (record 2002-55), this male was seen by many observers and photographed in the same yard where the sparrow appeared. Accepted
avian
information
2002-05-242002-05-28Clay5/24-28 Clay (third county record)
Male at feeder 5/24–26 Clay (Moorhead) †RHO, ph. DDM, †PHS, m.ob. (The Loon 74:240–241).
76:1522004-05-08Lac qui Parle State ParkLac qui Parle(record #2004-064, vote 2–5). Despite being observed at close range “for about a minute” the description was incomplete, e.g., no mention of back pattern, wing-bars, rump, tail, and leg color. Wing linings were not seen. The observer's experience with this species was not outlined, and light conditions, time of day, and position of bird with respect to the sun were unknown. The committee has been circumspect regarding reports of non-adult male Black-headed Grosbeaks; only 4 of the 21 accepted records of this species are of adult females. Not Accepted
76:1522004-05-29Lac qui Parle State ParkLac qui Parle(record #2004-065, vote 2–5). This bird was seen flying through the trees for a distance of 40 feet before it perched on a log for about five seconds and then disappeared. Understandably, the description was incomplete and although sketches were submitted of the bird in flight, it was unclear how well the underwing and upperwing pattern were seen as it flew through the trees. Brief observations for seconds at a time do not permit careful scrutiny for hybrid characteristics such as back streaking, rose tinges to an orange breast, or orange tinges on a yellow underwing. The observer described the back of this grosbeak as black, but if the back was really black then the grosbeak could not have been a pure Black-headed: in pure Black-headed Grosbeaks the back is streaked (Anderson and Daugherty. 1974. Characteristics and reproductive biology of grosbeaks (Pheucticus) in the hybrid zone in South Dakota. Wilson Bulletin 86:1–11). Not Accepted
78:402004-12-18Vadnais HeightsRamsey(record #2005-053, vote 0–7). The description of a bird seen with six robins during a Christmas Bird Count noted “black and white markings on the head”, “bright orange-red breast” and “white markings on wings”. These details were considered too vague and incomplete to determine species. Not Accepted
2477:1692005-05-24near LuverneRock(record #2005-025, vote 7–0). This adult male pursued a female Rosebreasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus). Accepted
avian
information
2005-05-24Rock5/24 Rock (second county record)
Two accepted records: 5/24 Rock (adult male near Luverne) †PHS (The Loon 77:258–259) and 5/29+ Marshall (adult male near Newfolden) †MBr; also documented by †PCC, †JMJ, †SAS.
2578:402005-05-292005-06-16New Solum TownshipMarshall(record #2005-037, vote 7–0). An adult male sporadically visited a feeder during its 19-day stay. Accepted
avian
information
2005-05-292005-05-30Marshall5/29-30 Marshall (first county record)
Two accepted records: 5/24 Rock (adult male near Luverne) †PHS (The Loon 77:258–259) and 5/29+ Marshall (adult male near Newfolden) †MBr; also documented by †PCC, †JMJ, †SAS.
avian
information
2005-06-062005-06-14Marshall6/6, 12, 13, 14 Marshall (second county record)
Adult male at feeder south of Newfolden, from 5/29 until 6/16 Marshall †MBr, †PCC, †JMJ, †SAS (The Loon 78:54–55)
78:402005-06-10Reine TownshipRoseau(record #2005-040, vote 0–7). Bill shape was not described and the color of its bill “yellow/light colored” eliminated Blackheaded Grosbeak. The bird's behavior — hiding under a low-growing juniper or the edge of a brush pile, then coming out to peck on the ground — was atypical for a grosbeak; the observers considered this when they wrote, “the white breast extended well up on the chest area, which made us think of a Rufous-sided towhee.” Not Accepted
78:54-552006indexBlack-headed Grosbeak in Marshall County
79:1232006-08-28southeast of Granite FallsChippewa(record #2006-092, vote 0–7). Despite being observed for 30 minutes with two female grosbeaks (presumably Rose-breasted), there was no comparison among the three birds and no field notes were taken. The description omitted most of its plumage, including wing linings, and its bare parts were not described. Not Accepted
avian
information
2006-08-28Chippewa8/28 Chippewa (first county record)
79:1232006-09-182006-09-20BrittSt. Louis(record #2006-089, vote 1–6). One distant image and brief written details were insufficient to eliminate either Rose-breasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus) or hybrids thereof. Wing linings were not seen, so the bird could not be aged or sexed; some first-fall Rose-breasteds show a whitish belly and nearly unstreaked pale buff breast, very similar to the appearance of this bird in the submitted image. Not Accepted
avian
information
2007-05-012007-05-31Wilkin5/1-31 Wilkin (first county record)
Adult male third week in May at feeder in Wilkin (Breckenridge) ph. LPT fide SPM. [Corrected]
2680:52007-05-20BreckenridgeWilkin(record #2007-043, vote 6–1). Accepted
82:32008-05-21BreckenridgeWilkin(record #2009-039, vote 0–7). Field notes or sketches were not taken at the time of observation. A brief description based on memories was submitted 15 months later. The possiblity of a hybrid between this species and Rose-breasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus) was not considered. Not Accepted
81:72008-05-252008-05-27Sand LakeLake(record #2008-040, vote 2–5). Field notes or sketches were not taken at the time of observation, and documentation was submitted three months after the observation. The possibility of a hybrid between this species and Rosebreasted Grosbeak (P. ludovicianus) was not considered. Not Accepted
2782:1032009-12-182010-01-15DuluthSt. Louis(record #2009-065, vote 7–0). First county record and first winter record. Photographed (The Loon 82:143). Accepted
avian
information
2009-12-192010-01-07St. Louis12/19-1/7 St. Louis (first county record)
First-winter male at feeder 12/18 1/7 St. Louis (Duluth) ph. PJT, ph. †PHS, ph. †KRE, ph. DAC, ph. LME, m.ob. This is the first winter record for the state.
2885:992013-05-252013-05-26DuluthSt. Louis(record #2013-024, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. First spring record for the county. Good photographs and no evidence of hybridization. Accepted
avian
information
2013-05-252013-05-26St. Louis5/25-26 St. Louis (second county record)
Adult male seen 5/25–26 in St. Louis at a residential feeder near Embarrass ph. †SWn.
87:42014-05-18Maxwell Township, Section 15Lac qui Parle(record #2014-019, first vote 4–3, recirculated vote 2–5). Identification of a female/immature Black-headed Grosbeak can often be a difficult challenge. While this bird was photographed at a feeder, the single photograph permitted only a fairly distant, dorsal view. The photograph itself was not very useful in narrowing down the identification. The Committee felt that the description by an observer inexperienced with the species was lacking too much detail to eliminate Rose-breasted Grosbeak or a possible hybrid grosbeak. Not Accepted
2987:952015-05-182015-05-20private residence, BrainerdCrow Wing(record #2015-013, vote 6–1). Photographed, first county record. The member voting not to accept expressed concern about the bill's apparent pinksh coloring and the indistinct flank streaking. Accepted
avian
information
2015-05-182015-05-20Crow Wing5/18, 20 Crow Wing (first county record)
Only report 5/18–20 Crow Wing (Brainerd) ph. †JPR, ph. †SBM, ph. EGa, HHD, PSP.
93:472020-09-14BloomingtonHennepin(record #2020-075, vote 2–5). Photographed. The photograph appears to be overexposed and the coloration of the bird blurry. The written details don't offer much by way of diagnostic features needed to separate it from a Rosebreasted Grosbeak or a grosbeak hybrid. Not Accepted
95:32022-05-07 near the state highway 99 bridge at the east end of Lake SakatahRice (record #2022-019, original vote 4–3, recirculated vote 1–6). The report lacks details surrounding the circumstances of the brief observation that would have been helpful for the Committee to evaluate the record, such as the amount of time and distance while perched versus in flight. Additionally, some of the written description of the bird is inconsistent with Black-headed Grosbeak. 

Not Accepted
3094:32022-05-09 private residence, Coon Rapids near Mississippi RiverAnoka (record #2022-026, vote 7–0). Adult male, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
avian
information
2022-05-09Anoka5/9 Anoka (first county record)
First spring this species has been reported since 2015:5/9 Anoka (Coon Rapids, adult male) ph. †RLR.
3193:1152023-09-182023-09-19Otter Tail (record #2023-099, vote 6–1). First-year male, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
3295:1152023-09-182023-09-19Otter Tail (record #2023-099, vote 6–1). First-year male, photographed. First county record.

Accepted
 
 Twenty-seven records: 19 spring, 1 spring-summer, 1 summer, 1 summer-fall, 4 fall, and 1 winter. Recorded in three of the last ten years, most recently 2015.

Notes:

The information in the above table comes from several different sources. The count in column 1 indicates which of the sources is considered the primary source.
'Accepted' MOURC entries from The MOURC Proceedings
'Not Accepted' or 'Rejected' MOURC entry from The MOURC Proceedings
Accepted MOU records assembled by David Cahlander
Sighting records for ()
Avian information from the occurrence maps, in dark red, assembled by Robert Janssen. Seasonal report for the species/season published in The Loon or The Flicker has been added.
Information from The Loon index assembled by Anthony Hertzel and David Cahlander