Finch, California, USA (1 Viewer)

[rkj]

This is a heavily cropped photo of a bird that I never got very close to, taken in central California at a site where both House Finch and Purple Finch are regular. The sharply streaked sides would make one think it is a House Finch. Everything else, however, says Purple Finch: chunky shape, short notched tail, relatively straight culmen. I feel certain it is a Purple Finch, but I wonder if anyone has other thoughts or experience with similarly streaked Purple Finches.

 

[rkj]

And after asking many posters for the dates of their sightings, I failed to give the date of mine. It was 3 July 2021.

 

[KenM]

To my eye it looks more purple than red, thus I’m thinking the former.

Cheers

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm thinking, given the time of year it is a House Finch in deep breeding color. Too much stripe-ing on it's belly and sides

 

[Kratter]

Reddish back and stout bill with little curve to culmen make this a Purple Finch.
Andy

 

[Microtus]

Reddish back and stout bill with little curve to culmen make this a Purple Finch.
Andy

I agree

 

[Butty]

That's a purple-finch bill.

 

[rkj]

Thanks all for the confirmation. I think I shall post to the gallery a collage of photos showing some of the variation in flank streaking in this species.

 

[tom baxter]

definitely a purple finch, albeit strange to show brown streaks below as you mentioned. Perhaps a young male?