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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Orange House Finches. (1 Viewer)

-25

Bird and squirrel lover.
I have a large group of House Finches feeding regularly. Lately I have noticed about 10-15 Orange males in the 100 or so that feed here. Are the Orange ones common? What causes the extremely noticeable difference? These are CLEARLY orange, not just a light red etc. Infact I personally prefer the orange ones.
 
Hi there.

Your orange finches are known as "variants" and can be seen in yellow and sometimes white. Everything I have read on this is that it is diet generated but I cannot confirm this as fact.
 
That's what I've understood, too, KC. I've had all kinds of colors on HOFIs in the yard. Last summer, even had a Cassin's Finch that was orange, which is extremely unusual.
 
San Francisco area

When we lived in the Bay Area, we had quite a few orange variant House Finches at our feeders. The variance is caused by diet.

I haven't seen any in Texas yet.

Jeff
 
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