8 replies to this topic

[ItchyHummer]

Not 100% sure what this is... the male (I think) is at the bottom.

[Liam]

Where were these taken? The last one is a House Finch, but I'm not guessing on the other ones until I know the location.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Are the first three shots the same bird? Those shots look like a female Cassin's Finch to me, with that raised crest in the first shot. The male bird is a House Finch. Where were these shots taken?

Edit: Liam beat me to it again.

[ItchyHummer]

The first two are one bird, the third is a different one. On the feeder at the same time. They were taken in Maine. So doesn't seem like they would be Cassin, but they seem more heavily striped than a typical house finch female? The crest was VERY pronounced - never seen a non-crested bird have it raised that much while, and while just sitting and chilling.

[ItchyHummer]

More pics...



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[Liam]

Ah, I was thinking Purple for the first bird anyway due to the large bill.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Ah, that makes sense. All of your females are Purple Finches, then, with the bright white supercilium.

[ItchyHummer]

Ok, thanks! How do I tell a purple male from a house male then?

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

House Finches have brown streaking on the flanks, whereas Purple Finches don't really have the brown streaking, and instead have smudgy red streaks on the flanks. That's the easiest way to tell, at least! Here's a comparison shot, with the House Finch in the foreground (not my photo):

http://farm7.staticf...7d93227fe_z.jpg