I read with interest Scott Ray's note about Pine Grosbeaks feeding on
mistletoe, in southern Okanogan County.

As a butterfly fancier, I have learned to take careful note of mistletoe
occurrences. There are several interesting species of butterflies in
Washington which use dwarf mistletoe as their larval food plant. All are
hairstreaks, and all overwinter as chrysalids.

Has anyone else observed grosbeaks, or other birds, eating this plant? Is
it possible the birds are feeding on larvae, or some other plant or animal
associated with the mistletoe? I wonder if the grosbeaks could, in fact,
even be feeding on the butterfly chrysalids themselves?

Dave Nunnallee
dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov