On 23 December David Dauphin reported that he and five others saw and photographed an ABA Code-4 Crimson-collared Grosbeak (Rhodothraupis celaeno) at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas (closed 12/24 and 12/25). The distance between this spot and Frontera Audubon property in Weslaco, another recently reported location for this species, is about 27 driving miles (fewer straight line air miles).
Natural history information about this very cool species can be found in previous PEEPS posts.
The imm male Smew has no bands
Posted by: Hugh Currie | December 27, 2011 at 05:15 PM