House Finch - Male - Pink & Yellow - California (1 Viewer)

[esxi1979]

Hi,

Just did a search myself on yellow male house finch ..

"while most males show red feathering, some are decidedly more orange – and some even yellow. It turns out that House Finches acquire their coloration from pigments in the plant foods they eat. This is true for most birds with red-, orange-, or yellow-pigmented feathers. These tones each derive from a different organic pigment, known as carotenoids. So that yellow male House Finch standing out from all the red ones? Well, his attire reflects something he ate – or didn’t eat"

That said i saw a smaller yellow .. and this fellow come in pair & very rarely as such .. say after 500 house finch at the feeder .. is that

Yellow-breasted chat ? sorry picture not clear ..​

thanks

 

[KC Foggin]

They are called "Variants" I've seen them with yellow heads but have yet to see one in pink.

 

[THE_FERN]

First photo looks like house finches. Unsure about 2 right hand birds in second but they're not yellow-breasted chat or house finches because of [for example] the white wing bars. They might be lesser goldfinch if this species occurs in your area. Other photos might make it easier if you have them...

 

[KenM]

Lesser Goldfinch on the right hand side of feeder, 2nd image.

Cheers

 

[Microtus]

Yes, Lesser Goldfinch on the right in #2 (and probably on the left?), House Finches in #1

 

[birdmeister]

Additionally, the bird in image 1 with the deep pink supercilium and notched tail looks to be a Purple Finch, even with that heavy flank streaking.

 

[rkj]

Additionally, the bird in image 1 with the deep pink supercilium and notched tail looks to be a Purple Finch, even with that heavy flank streaking.

Maybe, but House Finches can be that color and can have a notched tail under some circumstances. I would want to see a better view of the culmen before making the call.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Maybe, but House Finches can be that color and can have a notched tail under some circumstances. I would want to see a better view of the culmen before making the call.

The finch in #1 looks fine for a Purple Finch imo - note the following:

• Plain white undertail coverts - compare the 2 House Finches in the image (this applies to male and females of either sp.btw)
• The covert bars are pale pinky red cf to the whitish/buff in House Finch
• The tail looks shorter than the other 2 and is deeply notched
• The broad chested and generally bulky shape cf to the slimmer shape of the other two
• Slightly more diffuse flank streaking
• Strong face pattern with clearly marked supercilium and earcoverts.

While the presence of some of the above might be open to subjective interpretation of what we see in the image, it think there’s enough there to point to Purple House Finch. While a better view of the culmen would be helpful, it’s not necessary imo.

 

[Seanbirds]

The finch in #1 looks fine for a Purple Finch imo - note the following:

• Plain white undertail coverts - compare the 2 House Finches in the image (this applies to male and females of either sp.btw)
• The covert bars are pale pinky red cf to the whitish/buff in House Finch
• The tail looks shorter than the other 2 and is deeply notched
• The broad chested and generally bulky shape cf to the slimmer shape of the other two
• Slightly more diffuse flank streaking
• Strong face pattern with clearly marked supercilium and earcoverts.

While the presence of some of the above might be open to subjective interpretation of what we see in the image, it think there’s enough there to point to Purple House Finch. While a better view of the culmen would be helpful, it’s not necessary imo.

Agreed.

 

[raymie]

First photo: Mixed flock of House and Purple Finches.
Second photo: Lesser Goldfinches.

 

[Microtus]

I agree, there is a male Purple Finch in photo #1

 

[THE_FERN]

(Just to note: I didn't carefully assess the birds in photo 1: I was really wanting to address the question of whether a yellow bird there could be a house finch, and separately, whether the birds in 2 are chats. So happy to accept that forensics suggest there's a purple finch in 1)