2012 25-CENT COLOURED COIN - ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

Serenade of a Springtime Songster

In the first summery days of late May, Pheucticus ludovicianus announces its arrival. The medium-build bird, about 20 centimetres (8 in) long, black-headed, bright pink triangle on its white breast, darts about, crooning its happy opera as it establishes its territory.

These lovely minstrels have travelled a long way: they winter in central Mexico and northern South America, then fly back to their Canadian forest home when the days get longer. Once they have completed the long journey back home to the heavily wooded second-growth deciduous and mixed forests from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, the bright-breasted male and brown-striped female mating pairs quickly build to their fragile-seeming nests, preferring the nooks and crooks of the maple tree. They feed primarily on insects among the treetops but also eat seeds, buds, and fruit. In late August, when days get shorter, these grosbeaks will begin the journey south again.

This songbird is part of the Cardinalidae family. Males are noted for their bold black, white, and bright pink colouring. Females have a distinctive white 'eyebrow' and double stripe on their wings and are often mistaken for large sparrows. Both male and female have thick, light-coloured bills.

Specifications:
Item number: 117753
Face Value: 25 cents
Mintage: 20,000
Composition: Cupronickel
Diameter (mm): 35
Edge: Plain
Finish: Specimen with colour

Special Features:
-Coin number nine in a series featuring the colourful birds of Canada.
-Highly collectable on the secondary market
-This coloured and engraved coin showcases a bright-chested male Rose-breasted Grosbeak perched delicately on the stem of a maple tree.
-Full colour image of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is printed on the Certificate of Authenticity.

Packaging:
Coin is encapsulated and presented in a Royal Canadian Mint branded maroon clamshell case lined with black flock and protected by a black sleeve.