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Finch-Like Darker Brown Bird at our Feeder

chickadeemelrose

17 years ago

I have a question: do female house finches vary in the color of brown in their appearance? We have a lot of house finches here and I usually have no problem identifying them, but there are a couple of birds that visit that are a lot darker brown, but with the pattern on the belly etc. that would make them look like finches.

Any suggestions? I have studied these birds through my binocs and still no idea as to what they are or whether they are just a variation of color in the finch family.

Thanks for any help you might give, I'm really stumped.

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Comments (4)

chickadeemelrose
Original Author
17 years ago
P.S. - I am an extreme newbie at bird identification! So if you need to ask me questions about this bird don't worry about offending me, I need all the help I can get.
chickadeemelrose
Original Author
17 years ago
Looked through my Audubon field guide tonight and I think the bird in question might be a female purple finch.

I had thought of pine siskin but couldn't discern any yellow on the wings.

It's probably not good form to followup your own post, but I guess maybe this one's solved.
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lisa11310
17 years ago
Well I came in to see if you had posted a pic, I like to play the "ID the bird game" and I see your in here talking to yourself LOL. I have learned a lot by looking at the posts asking for IDs. I have actually been able to spot lifers and know what they were without looking them up...Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Bobolink, Killdeer, Ovenbird, etc. Pretty cool to see a bird for the first time and already know what it is. It's ok to follow up on your own post, we are all crazy people in here! ;)
chickadeemelrose
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, sometimes this IDing the birds thing can make a newbie feel like she's gone a little "around the bend" as they say! :) Especially with all the species that are brown with stripes! LOL Thanks for writing, though, I appreciate the thought.

I did realize that a photo would have made a huge difference in people being able to help me out, so I am going to keep my camera by my side and get my DH to work with me on posting photos.

Thanks again for writing - I check in here every day because I haven't enjoyed anything like backyard birding in a long time. Your humor was appreciated. :)

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