Bird Guide

Blue Bunting vs Golden Grosbeak

Blue Bunting (Cyanocompsa parellina)

Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina

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The nominate subspecies of blue bunting is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long. Males weigh 11 to 24 g (0.39 to 0.85 oz) and females 9.8 to 21 g (0.35 to 0.74 oz). The nominate male is various shades of blue, sky blue on the forehead and cheek, blackish blue on the upperparts, ultramarine on the rump, and the underparts from chin to belly deep blue. The adult and immature females are overall dull brownish, with a reddish tinge to the belly. The immature male is overall gray-blue with a brownish wash on the belly. Compared to the nominate, the C. p. Voice: The blue bunting's song is "a sweet, rather sad warble" . Its call is a metallic note .

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: datadan · CC BY 4.0
Golden Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster)

Golden Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysogaster

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The body averages 21 cm (8.3 in) in length. The bill is large and conical in shape, typical of most species in the family. The golden grosbeak is sexually dimorphic in plumage. Males are bright yellow with a black wing and back. They have white spots on their median and greater wing-coverts that wear over time, and older birds appear darker. The females have brown wings and brown streaks covering the head, flanks, back and rump. The immature of this species look similar to the female in plumage and is often not distinguishable in the field.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Golden Grosbeak
Recorded by Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · Song · San Antonio De Los Altos (near Parroquia Macarao), Los Salias, Miranda, Venezuela · CC0
Photo: Adam Jackson · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue Bunting and Golden Grosbeak.