Ugly Bird in Missouri (1 Viewer)

[stlouisguy]

I think it may be just a purple finch, but the face and bill seem wrong. Took the shot through bushes and couldnt see face until I came home. Ideas?

 

[Larry Lade]

Looks to me like a male House Finch.

 

[steveo]

This bird strikes me as more of a Purple Finch.

 

[birderbf]

Purple it is. Straight culmen, raspberry color, etc.

 

[Larry Lade]

Was the above photo the only one you got of this bird? Perhaps if you had a side or frontal shot, we might be able to tell with more certainty what the bird is.

 

[stlouisguy]

I didnt Larry. It struck me as a Purple as very little to no streaking on chest but he was in flight at the time so no pic.

 

[Larry Lade]

The color does look more the raspberry shade of red sported by Purple Finches. Also the Purple Finch does tend to have some brownish streaking on the flanks, so this may be the Purple Finch and not the House Finch.

 

[Gentoo]

Purple Finch for me.

Personally I think they're beautiful.

 

[Maryland Flicker]

I agree with Gentoo on both accounts.

 

[Tero]

STL guy, when you see these birds, check the females that accompany the flock. The female purple finch has a pale stripe through the eye which is easy to ID. I then assign the whole flock by that.

 

[cavan wood]

STL guy, when you see these birds, check the females that accompany the flock. The female purple finch has a pale stripe through the eye which is easy to ID. I then assign the whole flock by that.

Careful with that. I've had mixed combinations of all types at my feeder. Female house with male purple, vise versa, male and female of one, but only one sex of the other, etc.

Scott

 

[AmpelisChinito]

UGLY???!!! What's a pretty bird? Brown-headed Cowbird?

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Purple finch for me, too. You can see the mask - that is where the female purple finch has a dark mask with a white eyebrow, the male has the dark mask with a red eyebrow. It's hard to see most times, but it's really clear on this one.

And I second the warning about assigning the flock. Around here, we get mixed flocks usually with scattered purples in large flocks of houses.

 

[KC Foggin]

Is there such a thing as an ugly bird?

 

[ovenbird43]

Is there such a thing as an ugly bird?

Yes- domestic Muscovy Ducks!

I agree with Purple Finch on this, the bill is rather large and heavy for a House Finch, and it has a very wide purplish supercillium.

 

[stlouisguy]

In Ugly, I meant I dont think I took his good side!

 

[Tero]

I am still pretty undecided on this.

 

[cavan wood]

I am still pretty undecided on this.

Here is a male house finch in a similar pose. I can see some confusion over the face pattern.
http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/r/Rusmwood/249.jpg
But look at the difference in the curve of the culmen and in the clarity of the streaking on the flank.

Purple finch for me.

Scott

 

[Tero]

Nice photo, thanks. They look very similar, but the one you linked has good marks for a house finch. It looks pretty definite. And the lighting is better.

I would not really call the one here. There is color on the face and with photoshop someone could get detail out of it. The flanks are a bit out of focus.

 

[Tero]

I tried to brighten it a bit. I am not very good with photos. I could go either way on this. The wing is starting to look like purple finch.