Saturday, January 22, 2011

Male House Finches of The Vermilon River. A Post to Scenic Sunday

The Female is a female Purple Finch.


Female Purple Finch in the Back.
 All  birds are welcome at my bird feeders, but unfortunately, my feeders are only attractive in the fall, because they lack water, and shelter. There's nothing I can do about that simply because it's an apartment, and I think building up a shelter of dead branches would offend the other residents. So the house finches were really welcome, as I had not seem them before.
Robin Robinson on her site @ http://robins-chaos.blogspot.com/. in a great essay on Waxwings, both Bohemian and Cedar has categorized bird people as bird watchers and birders. The difference she feels is that bird watchers really just watch, and maybe have a list of birds that they want to see and tick off their list. While birders want to identify and know the habitat and indeed the habits of the birds.I think there is a third group who are nature watchers, that includes the environment in all its aspects, and record it by sketching, painting, or by camera. But to do that they must know the identification, the habitat, and habits of all forest creatures including the flora. That of course is Boom and I, and we do that in our 10 mile radius.I'm not suggesting that we're experts in fact probably just passable. Which type are you?

Now some facts about House Finches:
1) A flock of house finches is known as a development of finches.
2) Imported from the SW US in the 40's to Long Island, they spread over the east. Proving that if you can make it in NY City, you can make it anywhere.
3)The male colour, the raspberry red, can change to golden yellow depending on the diet.

For more information see: http://identify.whatbird.com/ and http://sdakotabirds.com/

A post to Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/
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39 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    Thanks Jidhu Jose.

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  2. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    Great job...we have House finches her ein Dallas and they usually are most cooperative at posing :) HERE'S my favorite.

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  3. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Hi John. But what's he doing with the female purple finch?

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  4. SnapJanuary 22, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    busy little critters enjoying the buffet!

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  5. NatureFootstepJanuary 22, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    I only have a balcony to. But I have trees outside so the birds stays there. These are great birds.

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  6. DianneJanuary 22, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    really nice shots
    love the colors of the birds

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  7. MaryJanuary 22, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    These are both purple finches....aren't they? The male doesn't have the striping that a House Finch would have and the color is all over the body, plus they are together as a pair.

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  8. Kay L. DaviesJanuary 22, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Love your finch facts. "A development of finches" - wonderful.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  9. UnknownJanuary 22, 2011 at 5:52 PM

    Oh, glad you had some new additions to the feeders!
    I didn't know the males can change colour. Odd :-D

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  10. MarieJanuary 22, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    What lovely birds -- and they look so happy enjoying a meal at the feeder!

    I'm visiting via Camera Critters and I'm a new follower as well. Would love to have you come visit!

    Marie
    bonkersinbarnhart.com

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  11. Jenn JilksJanuary 23, 2011 at 4:33 AM

    Lovely blog. Lots of succinct information. Your photos are fabulous.

    Thank you for visiting my Oliver !

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  12. eileeninmdJanuary 23, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    The Purple finches are beautiful birds. The male is such a pretty color.

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  13. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    Hi Snap. That they are.

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  14. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:29 AM

    Hi NatureFootstep. Thanks for the visit.

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  15. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Thanks Dianne for the visit and comments.

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  16. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    I think you're right Mary.

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  17. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    Hi Kay. Thanks for the visit, and good words.

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  18. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    Hi Nicole B. Thanks for the visit.

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  19. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    Hi Jenn Jilks. Thanks for the visit and good words.

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  20. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    Hi eileeninmd, and thanks for your visit, and kind words.

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  21. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    Hi Marie and welcome to the blog.

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  22. KellyJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Hi Gary! Loved your shots! I stuck our Christmas tree out on the deck instead of throwing it away! I guess when all the needles fall, I'll take it to the mulcher, but for now, it's doing okay (I did take the lights off!) :-)

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  23. Hilke BrederJanuary 23, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Nice visitors, Gary! I love the cool purple color of the male purple finch. The red of the house finch tends toward the warmer spectrum.

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  24. Small City ScenesJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    The little finches are so sweet. Busy too. Nice captures.

    I don't catagorize myself. I just enjoy taking pictures but like to know all about what I am taking pictures of. A nature lover.

    enjoy the day. MB

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  25. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:47 AM

    Hi Kelly. Nice to see you back.

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  26. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    Hi SCS. Thanks for the compliments.

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  27. UnknownJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Hi Hilke. I can't believe I did it I stuck the wrong copy with the pictures or vice versa. That's what happens when you work too far ahead.

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  28. SLHJanuary 23, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Nice shots & great info!

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  29. SpringmanJanuary 23, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    You make some great observations Gary. I certainly appreciate people with their ear to the wind and their eye to the sky, the watchers. Your reports from northern Ontario are the real deal!

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    I love feeding the birds and often have purple finches, goldfinches, cardinals, nuthatches...etc.

    Good information - I did not know that about finches.

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  31. YoshiJanuary 24, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    Fact #3 is very interesting!
    Birds will never come to our apartment since we have two cats who are always hungry for anything:)

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  32. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    Hi SLH. Thqanks for the visit and good words.

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  33. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Hi Springman. Thanks for the visit and kind comments.

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  34. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    To penandcamera. Thanks for the visit.

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  35. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Hi Yoshi. Cats can be a problem. We have cats on either side,but Boom likes his birds left alone,although he likes his cats too.

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  36. Bob BushellJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Nice one or two.

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  37. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    Hi Bob. Thanks for the good words.

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  38. EG CameraGirlJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Male finches can change colour? That's very interesting!

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  39. UnknownJanuary 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    To EGW. Change colour by diet.

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