House Finches at my feeder

It's snowing this morning in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, but that doesn't stop the traffic of birds at my feeder filled with black-oil sunflower seeds. Last time I mentioned House Finches, so let's look at them briefly.

The image here is that of a the male House Finch (photo provided by U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service; Dave Menke), which is different in coloring than that of the female. In an earlier post, I noted that male and female birds are often (but not always) different in coloring. In this photo you see the rosy blush of color on the male's head and chest. (Search the term "House Finch" in your favorite search engine to see just how many different Web sites will provide you with photos and even audio clips!)

The female House Finch, however, has no such rosy blush of color. So when learning to identify birds, you must keep in mind that recognizing the male of the species is only a start--a very GOOD start--but nonetheless a start. You'll also need to recognize the female . . . but even more: many birds change plumage through the seasons. A great example is the Goldfinch.

The male Goldfinch is a striking little bird of bright yellow with a black cap on his head, dipping into his forehead. The female, however, is a less showy greenish-yellow color. But here's where things get more interesting. In the winter, the male Goldfinch looses his bright yellow plumage. Through the winter he looks very much like his female counterpart. So you can see, learning bird identification, including a birds songs and calls, is no simple matter. But it's certainly fun!

Till next time . . . Happy birding!

Georgia Anne