Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!mips!prls!pyramid!unify!grp From: grp@unify.uucp (Greg Pasquariello) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Finch identification Message-ID: Date: 28 Feb 90 17:07:59 GMT References: <5896@blake.acs.washington.edu> Distribution: usa Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA Lines: 43 In article <5896@blake.acs.washington.edu> annmh@blake.acs.washington.edu (Ann Harrington) writes: > >Dear fellow birdwatchers, > >My birdfeeder attracts a lot of finches of the Purple/Cassin's/House >variety. What I'd like to know is, does anyone have any clues as >to how to tell these three varieties apart? > >Some of these finches are definitely House Finches, some are pretty >obviously Purple (sometimes they appear together, sometimes in >separate bunches), but there are an awful lot that seem to have >characteristics of all three types. Since all three are listed as >"common" in this area, range is no help....any suggestions? > >BTW: Things I've already looked at: beak size, presence of head cap & >color of same, color/vividness of chest bib, underside barring, etc. >Help! This is driving me nuts! > It always seems to me that house finches look "raggedy" while purple finches are always in fine shape and good color. I know, I know... very subjective. However, I think the reason that they look this way is 1. House finches have much more brown in their plumage, and 2. Purple finches are fatter birds. An interesting side-effect of this, is that a lot of beginning birders mistake house finches for redpolls rather than purples. While I have yet to see my first Cassin's finch (maybe this weekend!!) I have read that they should have striping on the undertail coverts (is that what you mean by underside barring?). I have never EVER seen a purple finch with this, and I have looked for it. Now, let's talk about the females... -Greg >Thanks. >-Ann >annmh@blake.acs.washington.edu -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg Pasquariello (916) 920-9092 grp@unify.UUCP Unify Corporation ...!{csusac, pyramid}!unify!grp