House Finch or Purple Finch? (1 Viewer)

I've looked at several websites and the various photos they have only confuse me more. There seems to be a great overlap in their colorings and I am missing the salient identifying factor.

If it helps, these pics were taken in early-mid April.

House Finch. The distinguishing features are the brighter red head and chest, brown streaks on the underparts (lighter red on Purple Finch) and the lack of reddish coloring on the back.

I agree house finch all the way

Also concur, male House Finch. In addition to the highly localized color, the beak is the giveaway here. Purple Finch has a very stout, smaller, and straighter beak than does the more highly arched House. Male Purple's color is also more overall, as one field guide said years ago, "like it's been dipped in raspberry juice."

Be careful with House Finch colors. They can be anything from yellow to pink to deep red and every shade in between. It's where the color occurs that's diagnostic -- on the forehead, over the eyes (not as a cap as seen in Cassin's and Purple), and on the rump and breast. Never on the wings as Purple's will show. :t:

Fantastic! Thanks for helping me out and identifying those specific things to look for and which things can be more or less ignored due to overlap.