Re: [MDOsprey] Piscataway Creek and Nat'l Colonial Farm
Paula Sullivan (paulas@erols.com)
Mon, 22 Nov 1999 22:50:26 -0500
kathy_klimkiewicz@usgs.gov wrote:
I have resisted replying to several messages referring to
> female Purple Finches. Thought it would be beneficial to all to remind
> folks that brown Purple Finches can be females or immature males. It takes
> two seasons for males to attain their rose color so they are in brown
> plumage until the end of their first breeding season.
>
> Therefore, brown birds cannot be called female based just on brown plumage.
> There is no easy way to id female vs immature male in the field unless the
> bird is caught during the breeding season by a bander. Singing brown birds
> in spring and summer would be males.
Kathy,
So glad you didn't resist replying to my report on the Piscataway
sightings. I am very glad to know why we could not safely assume we were
looking at a female Purple Finch just because it was sporting brown
plumage. I am delighted to have seen a Purple Finch of either sex and
even more so to have picked up some valuable pointers on field
identification of the species. Thanks!
Paula Sullivan
Alexandria, VA
paulas@erols.com