Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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FINCHES, CROSSBILLS, REDPOLLS, SISKIN, GOLDFINCH, EVENING GROSBEAK

Evening Grosbeak  Coccothraustes vespertinus

WINTER:  Casual Visitant.  Rare to Very Common when present.  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  NO RECORDS.

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Casual Migrant from early April to early May.  Late dates, 09 May 1969 (HS); 03 May 1978 (HS); 02 May 1987 (WA, LW).

 Fall:  Casual Migrant from mid-November to early December.  Early dates, 07 November 1993 (MG); 11 November 1978 (HS); 12 November 1983 (HS); 13 November 1977 (HS); 15 November 1997 (WA, GR).

REMARKS:

Historical Occurrence:  First recorded in West Virginia in 1943 (Brooks 1944).  The first specimen in West Virginia was collected in Marion County  (Lunk 1945) during the "massive invasion" in the northeast states in 1945-1946 (Hall 1983).  The first record for our area was made by Lawrence Hicks during the winter of 1945-1946 (Brooks 1946, Kiff et al.1986).  From the winter of 1953-1954 to the early 1980's this species was considered a common to very common resident (Edeburn et al. 1960, Kiff et al. 1986).  Since the early to mid-1980's this species has become casual in occurrence.  It was last recorded in 1987 on the Huntington CBC and 1993 on the Ona CBC.  Our latest record, about 35 birds at Ashton, Mason Co., WV, from 17 to 28 February 1996 (WA, MG, SS).

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 23% of Counts.  Total Birds:  414.  Range:    1 to 133.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Recorded on   6% of Counts.  Total Birds:    20.  Range:  20.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 30% of Counts.  Total Birds:  801.  Range:    1 to 352.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:    7.3.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  17.7.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:    2.3.