By User:Kclama (Own work) [CC SA 1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/sa/1.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
Status.
Category E
Native Range
North America. Breeds throughout most of the USA and winters in central America and the Greater Antilles.
British Occurrence
NBN atlas has 6 records as at end 2024. Map Here. None of these include the records below and all are from the 1980s (most being from Anglesey.)
Four records were considered in the BOURC 37th report:adult male, Out Skerries, Shetland, 23–26 August 1970;
adult male, Highland, 10–11 March 1972;
male, Borders, 22 May 1977;
one Gloucestershire, 9 May 1986.
At the time of the review there had been no accepted records of the species occuring naturally. The species was being traded during the 1970s.
The Shetland bird occurred at a very early date for natural autumn arrival and the Highland bird had plumage characteristics that suggested a captive origin. The Borders bird however, occurred at time when several other transatlantic vagrants appeared in the country but the bird had been assumed to be an escape and no description or photographs were taken and the corpse was disposed of.
No further details could be obtained for the Glouc bird. (BOURC 37th Report)
