While I was admiring this uncommon visitor, the Rose-Breasted grosbeak on the left, a much more common but at least as brightly coloured visitor, the Purple finch on the right, decided to be part of the sitting. I'm glad he did.

It's thirteen years since a Rose-breasted grosbeak came by our feeder, and that was a female who doesn't live up to the species' name at all.

I went looking right away for the grosbeak in my copy of "The Finches of North America" and puzzled over the fact it wasn't there. Then it dawned on me: it's not a finch at all. And I discovered -- with a very quick Googlement -- that it is one of the cardinal family.