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Two Jugs
February 14th, 2010, 05:16 PM
I am having trouble with three photos which seem to be House Finches, but there is some doubt. Shots taken in Mazatlan, Mexico in January.

Images posted at
www.twojugs.ca/Finch.htm

I would value any comments.

Tony
AndyB
February 15th, 2010, 05:59 AM
Hi Tony, your middle photo looked very much like Purple Finch on color but the streaked undertail makes me think these are all House Finches which are redder further south than the birds we are used to seeing in the US. Best, Andy
Brian S
February 15th, 2010, 10:01 AM
Hi Tony, your middle photo looked very much like Purple Finch on color but the streaked undertail makes me think these are all House Finches which are redder further south than the birds we are used to seeing in the US. Best, Andy

My problem with House Finch is the extent of pink should be outside the range of southern populations according to Finches and Sparrows (Clement et al, 1993); the wingbars look a bit pink, my memories are of whiter wing bars.

Could this be a bright Cassin's Finch? http://www.flickr.com/photos/sum_doo/2230960785/

Brian S
Sherpa
February 15th, 2010, 10:55 AM
These three are tricky and an assesment of the bill shape is very helpful.

Do you have any side-on shots of it not feeding?

Anyway, I suspect Cassin's Finch. They are highly irruptive. Sometimes I see lots at feeders in SE Arizona in winter, other times there are none.
Two Jugs
February 15th, 2010, 03:38 PM
I have added several more photos, including possible female/juveniles

Tony

www.twojugs.ca/Finch.htm
JanJ
February 15th, 2010, 05:14 PM
They have to be House finches, especially when you look at the billshape with an obvious curved culmen, in all itīs lenght, not just towards the tip as in many Purple.

JanJ
Brian S
February 15th, 2010, 05:42 PM
They have to be House finches, especially when you look at the billshape with an obvious curved culmen, in all itīs lenght, not just towards the tip as in many Purple.

JanJ

I agree. The new images show the bill shape more clearly.

Brian S
Sherpa
February 16th, 2010, 09:23 AM
Females are much more straightforward to identify. The head pattern is all important. Clearly House Finches. I guess that just one species is involved, although the two species are often side by side at feeders.