I'm not sure which ones I see at my feeder but will take a closer look next time I see some out there. If you scroll down on the link below where it describes purple and house finches, it has some hints to tell them apart. Here is a link that might be useful: MO Conservationist

I was standing at the kitchen sink maybe 3 feet from the bird. I used the zoom on macro. Never used macro on zoom, but figured if it zooms you in close, you need it.. no blurriness this time. I need to keep my window clean though! Yesterday, we had the house finches, White Crowned Sparrows and the Goldfinches all at the feeder. Couldn't get a good shot because of shadows.

I wonder if it might be an escaped White-headed Nun finch? Was the head pure white or was it mottled? What were the body markings like? If there is mottling or a piebald/pied effect it might be partially leucistic. This is a link to a picture of what I think is probably a partially leucistic house finch - see the mottling and some traces of the normal red coloring http://www.pbase.com/image/109596442 The nun finch (white-headed munia) is a caged bird. Escaped birds apparently easily hybridize with other finches. There are many subspecies of nun finches - they range from white heads just from the neck up to well down onto the shoulders, from a reddish brown body color with the tail the same color to a deeper red, or a more grayish brown body and tail. It would be hard to guestimate what a hybrid might look like. I don't know how well an escaped White Headed Munia (nun) finch would overwinter, but a hybrid would probably handle that better. If you can get a picture - several actually - that would answer a lot of questions. An escaped or hybrid version of a white headed nun finch seems unlikely - but so does a leukistic bird, LOL! This is a white-headed nun finch: Here is a link that might be useful: Google image search for white headed finches

This has been my best bird day, ever! Not long after posting this, several Northern Orioles flew in too. "The Gang's All Here!" and they're certainly making my feeder tree and post very colorful. Linda OHnowGA ~ Do you use the "upside down" finch/nyjer feeder? It restricts the seed so only the goldfinches can get to it? That has helped keep some of my costs down. Of course, the Pine Warblers here can eat upside down, too, so they "share." And the doves are always on the ground to pick up the leftovers. Ont Gal ~ There has been a rumor that there have been nesting cardinals in Grand Forks for the past two-three years. I haven't seen them yet, but I keep hoping. Lynn D ~ I've never seen an Indigo Bunting "in person," but I certainly hope to. They have got to be magical. RTHummer ~ f you send me a pair of cardinals, I'll send you a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks! How's that for a deal? Bird on, ladies; Bird on!!!