About two weeks ago, May 13th, as I was nearing the end of my nature walk, I happened to see this colorful bird and to hear his singing.  It was flying around from branch to branch, but, as it happened, I was able to get its picture. I found out later that day that it is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Psalm 104:12

The birds of the air nest by the waters;

They sing among the branches.

Rose-breasted grosbeaks have been seen in every county in our state, but despite that, they can hardly be considered common, since they are not numerous in any single location. Minnesota is about the center of their breeding range, which extends northwest through the parkland forests of Canada, south to northern Missouri, and east to the Atlantic. They will nest in shrubs, deciduous trees, and even conifers, and they are fairly tolerant of habitat disturbance by…