[BCHunter]

I spotted a bird on March 20 about 80 km North of Fort St. John that I had never seen before.
I think it might have been a black headed grosbeak...
Are they found this far North in B.C.
It was in thick brush close to the ground and was hopping around. Even though I saw it for only a minute or so, some bright orange was observed. Unfortunately, I never saw the beak!
Thanks.

[Berdesdan]

Could it be a Varied Thrush? It ranges quite far north.

They tend to forage on the ground as opposed to the Grosbeak which tends to stay in the foliage.

They are also very similar in color and size. If it had a black stripe across it's chest it would be the Thrush.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Var ... h/overview
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bla ... _Grosbeak/

[phainopepla6]

Sounds like a varied thrush to me, and they are spotted quite often on the island.

[BCHunter]

Varied thrush too big...
This bird was the size of a large sparrow!

[BirdingBC]

Very interesting. Not many orange birds would be up in Fort St. John in early spring. I am guessing it is still below zero and nothing is growing yet.

Sharing a link to orange birds of North America
https://www.birds-of-north-america.net/ ... birds.html

Varied Thrush is the size of a large sparrow. Plausible candidate

Pine Grosbeak (females have some orange)
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pine_Grosbeak/id

Red Crossbill or White-winged Crossbill - another species that can look orange at times
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red_Crossbill/id

Don't think it is a black headed grosbeak (BHGR) because well north of typical range plus still too early for BHGR to be up here. eg. BHGR show up in Victoria around the first week of may.

Bullocks or Baltimore Oriole? -- very unlikely as way to north and would not survive the cold.

Maybe an orange variant of a house finch? -- not likely if found in a remote location.

Say's Phoebe --- very early migrant and could occur as summer range is goes as far as Alaska.

Spotted Towhee -- well north of its range, unlikely.

Then we get into the possible Asian/European rare occurances
Brambling -- Could be, they breed in the far north. Slightly smaller than a sparrow
Redwing, Red-flanked bluetail -- between sparrow and robin.

Any further details about the bird or where it was located?