Another weekend at Hasty Brook. It rained more on than off on Saturday, but today dawned sunny and chilly. It got down to 41 overnight and was still in the upper 50's when we left
mid afternoon to drive home. Perfection! My apologies to those of you still living with heat and drought. I'm willing our cool, dry air along to you!
I'm not sure about this little bird. It took half the day for her to make her way timidly out of the trees to the feeder. At first I thought female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but I think she's too small. My next thought was female Purple Finch.
Below you can see the notched tail like a Purple Finch, but the white line on the Purple Finch is supposed to start behind the eye and this one looks to start above the eye.
The beak is too chunky for a sparrow right? Oh gosh, I'm tired and can't look at these pix any longer. Help me birders!
Another weekend at Hasty Brook. It rained more on than off on Saturday, but today dawned sunny and chilly. It got down to 41 overnight and was still in the upper 50's when we left mid afternoon to drive home. Perfection! My apologies to those of you still living with heat and drought. I'm willing our cool, dry air along to you! 
I'm not sure about this little bird. It took half the day for her to make her way timidly out of the trees to the feeder. At first I thought female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but I think she's too small. My next thought was female Purple Finch.
Below you can see the notched tail like a Purple Finch, but the white line on the Purple Finch is supposed to start behind the eye and this one looks to start above the eye. 
The beak is too chunky for a sparrow right? Oh gosh, I'm tired and can't look at these pix any longer. Help me birders!
11 comments:
That looks a lot like a juvenile purple finch.
This is the most frustrating time for birding, IMO. Everyone is molting, there are a zillion juveniles hanging around.
Lynne, I agree, this appears to
be a juvenile Purple Finch. More than likely it's a female. Nice
photos!
Hap in New Hope
I love your photos, Lynne, and glad it was nice and cool at Hasty Brook!
Since I've never seen a purple finch, my first inclination was juvenile house finch. Glad there are so many smarter people out there! Wonderful shots Lynne!
I had the same thought as Jayne because I've never seen a purple finch before.
Those are terrific shots! Too bad we all don't know what we're looking at :o)
Chilly weekend in Hasty Brook, huh? I'll bet it was heavenly. Glad you enjoyed it, Linne.
Susan- I feel more confident on my id this morning. Thanks for chiming in.
Hap in New Hope- Thanks for visiting and for your experienced opinion.
Pam- It was gorgeous- cool temps and dry air!
Jayne- I've only seen one male purple finch and it was last month at Hasty. My backyard is full of house finches and I could tell this wasn't one of them.
May- The weather people are forecasting lows in the 30's by the end of the week. EEeek!
Looks like you have a verdict already, but I just wanted to say I have dozens of these immature purple finches hanging around my feeder. Are your red breasted nuthatches as bold as mine? They're as indifferent to my presence as chickadees. I just love their whiney voices too!
Deb- thanks for the vote. The red-breasted nuthatches were very brassy. While I was filling the second set of feeders a chickadee sat on my head (a first!) and the red-breasted nuthatches scolded me inches from my face!
You gotta love those red-breasteds. You're so right - they got attitude!
Nice photos! I'm a little late but I was going to guess juvey house or purple finch.
Every time I check the comments here, I see that Mary from Mary's View spells your name Linne. Is that an inside joke or does she just forget how to spell it?
Anyway, I'm guessing juvi purple finch. -Helena
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