Finches

[thekerriproject]

I know we've had the Purple/Cassin's/House finch discussion before. Last spring my elderly father-in-law spent a week with us and his favorite thing to do was sit in the backyard and watch the birds. He swore he saw casssin's finches and he's pretty knowledgeable

Comments

[mactavish]

Has it got brown streaks on its belly? http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5180id.html

[thekerriproject]

He did, yeah.

[thekerriproject]

So you're thing an Super Red House Finch?

[fitzbeew]

Cassin's then? I'd guess Purple but you said birding people said they're not documented there.

[shes_unreal]

I would say that is definately not a house finch. House finches generally are more orange-red on the head (and sometimes yellow depending upon what they've eaten) and the red is limited to the head/throat/chest area.

[mactavish]

This has red on the back:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5190id.html

[shes_unreal]

Most of the ones I've seen don't have that much color. Maybe they're undernourished? Anyway you can clearly see the red is orange-ish in those photos and not in the OP's.

[sanderling]

First thing I thought when I looked at the photos was Cassin's Finch. A quick referral to my trusty Sibley confirms my opinion. A couple of reasons I feel pretty good that it's a Cassin's: in your photos it shows hardly any streaking down the flanks (what's there is indistinct). House Finches should have fairly noticeable streaking down the sides. Also, the crown on your bird almost looks like he's wearing a red cap, tilted forward over his eyes. It's pretty well-defined, and shows a bit of a crest at the top/back, which House Finch almost never does. And lastly, the back on your bird has a sort of rosy wash, nothing like what Purple Finch shows but definitely more than a House Finch has (who appear distinctly brown).

Nice photos!

[ebonyraven]

I agree with Cassin's Finch completely. The pink streaks on the throat, underneath and above the eye create a distinct patterning typical of Cassin's Finch, whereas House Finches look more washed red all over the head. The bright red on the cap that doesn't fade to the back is also typical of Cassin's. The best mark is that the lower belly looks whitish with a few pink streaks. House Finches have heavy brown streaks. Another helpful field mark is that Cassin's Finches have big, long, pointed bills, while House Finches have bills that are smaller and more curved.

Nice pictures. :)

[cordilleran2]

Exactly what I was saying....about the bills. Being bitten by a HOFI would be fine...but i wouldn't want to be bitten by a Cassin's Finch. Those things look like they'd HURT.

(Though not as much as say, a cardinal....)