Hi Jim:

I think female-type Purple Finches (PUFIs) are 
actually easier to separate from female House 
Finches (HOFIs) than are the males of the two 
species. Besides some subtle differences in 
shape, the overall coloration of the Eastern 
female-type PUFI really jumps out due to their 
heavy dark, very contrasty breast and side 
streaking and prominent white supercilium ... all 
much bolder and more pronounced than a HOFI. It's 
one of those cases where if you have to stare and 
ask yourself, "Is it a PUFI?" ... it's probably not.

Note that we say "female-type" PUFIs since first 
year males are also "brownies."

Hope this helps ...

Phil


At 13:01 11/03/2008, MICHAEL SPEICHER wrote:
>Hi List!
>
>That is i think so...  I have been marveling at 
>all the reports of P finches over the years on 
>Osprey when all i can seem to attract to my yard 
>feeders are House finches.  Finally, over the 
>weekend a mystery bird appeared at the sunflower 
>feeder that looked "a little odd."  I went to my 
>Sibley and worked through the sparrows expecting 
>to find it there.  I did, but it was a section 
>that highlighted confusing "sparrow-like" 
>birds.  There in that "box" was my bird 
>identified as a female PF.  When i turned to the 
>main PF entry, however, the similarity was less 
>compelling for some reason.  I'm gonna call it a 
>PF (PUFI?) all the same.  Now if i can only get a male to drop by...
>
>Jim (Michael) Speicher
>jugornought—at—yahoo-dot-com
>m
>Bethesda @work :(
>Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)
>

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Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
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