Coin number nine in a series featuring the colourful birds of Canada!
In the first summery days of late May, the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) announces its arrival. The medium-build bird, about 20 centimetres (8 in) long, black-headed, bright pink triangle on its white breast, darts about, crooning its happy opera as it establishes its territory.
These lovely minstrels have travelled a long way: they winter in central Mexico and northern South America, then fly back to their Canadian forest home when the days get longer. Once they have completed the long journey back home to the heavily wooded second-growth deciduous and mixed forests from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, the bright-breasted male and brown-striped female mating pairs quickly build to their fragile-seeming nests, preferring the nooks and crooks of the maple tree. They feed primarily on insects among the treetops but also eat seeds, buds, and fruit. In late August, when days get shorter, these grosbeaks will begin the journey south again.
This songbird is part of the Cardinalidae family. Males are noted for their bold black, white, and bright pink colouring. Females have a distinctive white “eyebrow” and double stripe on their wings and are often mistaken for large sparrows. Both male and female have thick, light-coloured bills.
Diameter: 35mm
Weight: 12.61g
Material: Other
Obverse: Queen Elizabeth II
Reverse: Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Finish: Specimen with coloured design on reverse
Quantity Produced: 20000
Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II
Theme(s): Birds of Canada
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