16 replies to this topic

[nmckown]

Please help us identify this bird.
Thank you

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[Liam]

That's a female House Finch, a common bird in urban areas.

[hbvol]

agree with Liam

[renitiadb]

OK I HAVE to ask - how do you know its not a female purple finch??? We caught one of each one timewhile banding and even our ornothologist had a tough time telling them apart - she said it was mainly personality (because the purple kept trying to attack the house). So is there something in this photo that would make you say House?

[meghann]

OK I HAVE to ask - how do you know its not a female purple finch??? We caught one of each one timewhile banding and even our ornothologist had a tough time telling them apart - she said it was mainly personality (because the purple kept trying to attack the house). So is there something in this photo that would make you say House?

The striping on the face. Purple finch females have more defined striping on the face, I believe.

[fisherman1313]

A female Purple Finch would have a much bolder facial pattern (bold white supercillium, white malar) and a more conical bill. Also, the streaking on the sides would look broken and less "stripey".

[Fragglecat]

To my understanding, the breast streaking is more crisp on a purple finch. Also, the purple finch has more distinct facial markings like an eyebrow. This page is nice because you can click on the picture and scroll to see pictures of the females side by side: http://www.allaboutb.../House_Finch/id

[BarnSwallow]

Yeah, I've never had trouble telling the females apart - the males are harder. We get a few female purples here every winter, and they stand out like a sore thumb among the houses.

[Liam]

See my photo below and you will be able to spot the differences. I wasn't able to add it onto the photo, but House Finches have more of a rounded tail and Purple more of a triangular tail.

[psweet]

Renitiadb -- I just checked Pyle, and he points out that while adults are fairly straightforward, juveniles (especially out west) can be quite tricky. So that may have been the issue -- I'd be very surprised if an ornithologist with any experience with the species had issues with adults of these two species in the hand.

[renitiadb]

I will find the picture and post it - It was in Orange County CA in March, and I believe we aged them both as after hatch year but I have to be honest and say that, even with them side by side, I couldn't see the difference! =) They were not as distinct as the photo above. (and she was using a Sibleys).

[renitiadb]

OK - In both photos: Bird on the left our ornotholigist identified as a female House Finch. Bird on the right was identified as a female Purple Finch.

[fisherman1313]

Both look like Purples to me.

[BarnSwallow]

Yup. I'd say both are purples.

[psweet]

Without access to the measurements and a better shot of the tail, I wouldn't presume to overrule someone who had the bird in hand. I will mention that there's an awful lot of pattern on the head of the bird on the left (actually on both of them, but there seems to be a consensus there).

If you're going to be involved in a banding project, I would strongly suggest picking up a copy of Pyle's Identification Guide to North American Birds. It's set up specifically for banders, and contains a lot of measurements, etc. that you simply won't find in any field guide. (He put it out in two parts -- part I has all of the passerines and a few of the 'near-passerines'. Chances are, that's all you'll need, but you guys would have a better take on that, of course.)

[renitiadb]

There is one at the station - actually there are MANY books at the banding station =) I am a complete newbie so my job is mainly scribing, photography and the favorite contestant on "What bird is this" hahahaha If I can't ID it right away I have to work my way through the ID until I get it right.

Anyway, our ornathologist took lots of measurements on these two - a couple of the other volunteers thought they were both purples as well but she said it was a Purple and a House (which is why I commented on this post in the first place - wanted to know why everyone else called this a House).

[psweet]

I am surprised there would be this much confusion -- from what I've seen and read, the head pattern and the tail shape should be sufficient to distinguish these two no problem. Of course, I don't have any experience with california Purples -- I guess they're smaller than ours.