The word “grosbeak” traces to the late 17th century: from French grosbec, from gros ‘big, fat’ + bec ‘beak’. A Grosbeak’s bill is indisputably big and fat in appearance. Including the Black-headed Grosbeak’s bill. Many bird species, not all of them closely related, have evolved this tool to mash hard seeds. It’s evolved in cardinals, finches and several Old World species. This handsome fellow was posing the Chiricahua Mountains.
WC is still chasing birds, in an area where the birding is very good but the internet connectivity not always so good. So posts will remain brief and, as you would expect, bird-focused, for a while longer.
Wickersham's Conscience 
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