Finch or something else, ID help in California (1 Viewer)

[Hockey.Lover]

This bird has shown up once before at my feeder but flew away before I could get a suitable photo. I have always had House Finches here at my feeders for several months and I thought I had gotten to know what they look like. For some reason, this doesn't look like one to me (but, I am still a novice IDer). It just seemed bigger than a House Finch and it appears to have more white on its head and the head looks a little different. Could it be a Purple Finch? Or even something other than those two?

These were the two best photos I had since I was trying to sneak to the window before it flew away.

Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks,

Gail

 

[AlexC]

Pacific Carpodacus finches can be tricky. To me your bird is a female Purple Finch - weak white supercillium, white crescent under front of eye, and just jizz.

 

[Hockey.Lover]

Pacific Carpodacus finches can be tricky. To me your bird is a female Purple Finch - weak white supercillium, white crescent under front of eye, and just jizz.

That is what I was thinking, Alex. This is exciting to me since it is my official first sighting. Aren't they slightly bigger than House Finches?

OK, so I keep hearing the term "jizz" and don't know what this indicates here.

Thanks once again for your help.

 

[JANJ]

Nice female Purple Finch with a greenish hue over it´s back, head and on wing coverts, most likely in western populations.

http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/Pages/PurpleFinchp.html

http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/birds6/purplefinch.html

http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/Pages/HouseFinchp.html

http://www.ncbirds.com/HFinchNav.htm#thumbs

JanJ

 

[Hockey.Lover]

Nice female Purple Finch with a greenish hue over it´s back, head and on wing coverts, most likely in western populations.

http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/Pages/PurpleFinchp.html

http://faculty.ucr.edu/~chappell/INW/birds6/purplefinch.html

http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/Pages/HouseFinchp.html

http://www.ncbirds.com/HFinchNav.htm#thumbs

JanJ

Thanks, JanJ. I noticed that greenish hue on her back, too. You have included some great example photos. Now the fun part is trying to distinguish a male Purple Finch in a sea of House Finches at my feeder. I would guess since I saw a female, perhaps a male is not too far away? I will have to be more observant.

Gail

 

[AlexC]

That is what I was thinking, Alex. This is exciting to me since it is my official first sighting. Aren't they slightly bigger than House Finches?

OK, so I keep hearing the term "jizz" and don't know what this indicates here.

Thanks once again for your help.

"Jizz" derives from the abbreviation "G.I.S." which stands for General Shape and Impression.

As for Purple vs. House in size, Sibley says...
-Length; Purple = 6", House = 6"
-Wingspan; Purple = 10", House = 9.5"
-Weight; Purple = 25g, House = 21g
-Purple Finches are "stockier than other Carpodacus finches...often looks large-headed..."
-House Finches have "...smaller body but longer tail than other Carpodacus finches..."

 

[Hockey.Lover]

"Jizz" derives from the abbreviation "G.I.S." which stands for General Shape and Impression.

As for Purple vs. House in size, Sibley says...
-Length; Purple = 6", House = 6"
-Wingspan; Purple = 10", House = 9.5"
-Weight; Purple = 25g, House = 21g
-Purple Finches are "stockier than other Carpodacus finches...often looks large-headed..."
-House Finches have "...smaller body but longer tail than other Carpodacus finches..."

Thanks for the terminology lesson.

I did see that in Sibley's that they are fairly close in size. I guess with the head looking larger on the Purple and stockier, it appears to be larger overall

I love the details!! Thanks, Alex.

 

[steveo]

General Impression + Shape