rose-breasted grosbeak

[ rohz-bres-tid ]

noun

an American grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, the male of which, in nuptial plumage, has a rose-pink triangular breast patch.

Origin of rose-breasted grosbeak

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Their habits are very similar to those of the rose-breasted grosbeak.
Bird Guide: Land Birds East of the Rockies | Chester A. (Chester Albert) Reed
Call and song like those of the rose-breasted grosbeak, but the latter more fluent.
Color Key to North American Birds | Frank M. Chapman
The rose-breasted grosbeak invariably nested in a clump of dense wild Crab-apple trees, partly overgrown with grape vines.
Birds and all Nature, Vol. IV, No. 4, October 1898 | Various
The rose-breasted grosbeak comes and shows his brilliant front.
Under the Maples | John Burroughs
On a tall tree one of the girls espied a rose-breasted grosbeak, rare in this part of Bucks County.
Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled during Her Visit among the "Pennsylvania Germans" | Edith M. Thomas

Browse