Pine Grosbeak

[Molebird]

We believe we saw a Pine Grosbeak in High Park this afternoon; it was halfway up the hill from Grenadier pond in tall Coniferous trees. We are pretty sure of this sighting but as this is a first for us we wonder whether other Birders may have seen it. We had a good day despite the weather and beside the "Usual Suspects" saw a number of White-throated Sparrows.
Any other confirmations?
Molebird

[Reuven_M]

Could it have been a purple finch?

[Molebird]

It was about 9 inches, feeding on berries high up in a tree.  It had a lot of brown on it but also a lot of purple/red all over and around the tail.  We concluded it was an immature male pine grosbeak (?)

Molebird

[dbellilo]

Related but also not: about a week ago there was a female evening grosbeak hanging around the lower duck pond. I was able to get a couple pictures of her, and was most surprised to see that bird there. While at H.P. yesterday I saw a bird up in the conifers you describe that had a "grosbeak" look, but I didn't get close enough to ID the bird...
All the best,
David

[Pat Hodgson]

Could it have been a purple finch?

That is polite-birder-speak for "no frickin' way", or something close to that, if I may take the liberty of paraphrasing someone else whom I do not know.  Pine grosbeak in Toronto is highly unlikely, but not totally impossible.  It could also have been a crossbill, though that is not much more likely than pine grosbeak.  Coniferous trees do not have berries.  Was it feeding from cones or was it moving to other trees with old fruit still on them?  The former would indicate crossbill while the latter is logical for grosbeak - but you would need a really complete description of the bird to be more sure.

[Molebird]

It was a very damp day with showers coming and going.  Our research indicates that these are the conditions Pine Grosbeaks favor. The "Pine Grosbeak" was alone and feeding on the "fruit" of a tree belonging to the cypress family (juniper).  The bird was about 9 inches, red/russet with some brown, indicating an immature male.  The rump was quite red.  Also an American Goldfinch was feeding on the same tree nearby.

We agree that coniferous trees produce cones and not berries - however since cypress/juniper cones strongly resemble berries - they are often referred to as berries, i.e. juniper berries.   They also produce excellent gin!

Molebird