Hello, Is this a Cassin's finch or house or purple? (1 Viewer)

[anita carswell]

Hello, I live in Richmond, California and we have a lot of (who we assume are) house finches and have for years. However, we've started getting a few who seem slightly larger and slightly plumper and they are not as tan and orange red as the other finches. This is 4 pictures of the same bird on the same visit. These birds/this bird seem to be darker and have darker wings and lighter bellies. Any ID help would be appreciated.

 

[aeshna5]

I would say Cassin's Finch with the unstreaked underparts.

 

[birdmeister]

Cassin's for me, too.

 

[KC Foggin]

Cassin's for me as well.

 

[Kratter]

Cassin's would be very rare in Richmond, and only during the winter (when were these taken?). Purple breeds in the area. The red does not look as concentrated on the forehead as it would for a Cassin's. so I would say Purple, but the images are not that great to be 100%.

Andy

 

[anita carswell]

This was taken a few days ago and bird is still coming by. I am leaning toward Cassin's from my own book bird id, but I know my camera is awful.

 

[anita carswell]

Thank you everyone! I'm leaning toward Cassin's too. We've had house finches for years now and this one is new. A while ago we had a very red purple finch who looked different from this one and the house ones, so belatedly I think that was a purple finch. So, I think I am getting used to seeing the differences (at least with the males!).

 

[Kratter]

As I mention above, Cassin's Finch does not occur in the Bay Area during the summer, and is a very rare winter visitor there. Purple Finch, however, breeds in the Bay Area. The plumage, what I can see, looks better for the expected Purple Finch.
eBird map of Cassin's Finch in summer: https://ebird.org/map/casfin?neg=tr...Z&mr=6-7&bmo=6&emo=7&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2019
eBird map of Purple Finch in summer: https://ebird.org/map/purfin?neg=tr...Z&mr=6-7&bmo=6&emo=7&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2019

 

[rkj]

As I mention above, Cassin's Finch does not occur in the Bay Area during the summer, and is a very rare winter visitor there. Purple Finch, however, breeds in the Bay Area. The plumage, what I can see, looks better for the expected Purple Finch.
eBird map of Cassin's Finch in summer: https://ebird.org/map/casfin?neg=tr...Z&mr=6-7&bmo=6&emo=7&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2019
eBird map of Purple Finch in summer: https://ebird.org/map/purfin?neg=tr...Z&mr=6-7&bmo=6&emo=7&yr=all&byr=1900&eyr=2019

As Kratter has said, Cassin's Finch is unknown anywhere near Richmond, California, in summer. It would take much, much better photos than these to establish such a record. And nothing in these photos favors Cassin's over Purple Finch.

 

[anita carswell]

Thanks everyone! For now I'll assume at least NOT a Cassin's.