Corn-jay

Until a week ago I had never heard the name Corn-jay for the female of the Pine grosbeaks. I was chatting with a man of about my age (say, a couple of years one side or the other of seventy) near his home on the West Coast of this island, Newfoundland. He mentioned a big flock of mopes had come through his yard a week or so previously. I knew what mopes are: Pine grosbeaks -- mope is the most common name for the bird in Newfoundland. And, he said, with the mopes were the usual accompaniment, a big pile of Corn-jays. Unlike the red Mopes, Corn-jays are grey, he said.

We chatted back and forth about what Corn-jays could be until I realised he was talking about the female of that species. The males are a strong red while the females are a dull grey with some yellow.

I learnt a new word and was well pleased.

And, so, I was pleased further a few days later when a pair of mopes were in our garden gobbling up dandelion seeds. I didn't see the other one, but could hear him. And this one was happy to have me stalk her with the camera, getting close enough that she filled nearly the whole frame.