reddish finch-like bird

[tupe]

...in my neighbor's weeping cherry tree. I was actually thinking of a shot of that tree when I spotted this fellow. He posed for me from several angles. In fact, I have another shot almost exactly like this:

http://typelogic.com/photos/red%20finch%20sm.jpg

[TammieO]

What an opportunity. I love when they pose for pictures. Good job BTW.

[tupe]

Thanks, Tammie. Most of them, as someone else noted, are always moving. And when they light, it's in a dark nook behind branches. I have dozens of pics of bluebirds and a catbird that managed to elude focus.

Does anyone know what kind of bird it is?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Female Cardinal?

Great shot :)

[Surefire_Spanky_Light]

I think some people call them Purple Headed Finches, but I think the proper common name is House Finch. That is the male the female is all brown. I had a pair build a nest in a hanging basket last year.

[RJSorensen]

Nice shot . . . how do you get leaves on your trees?

[cmM]

yup, looks like a cardinal to me :)
Nice shot ;)

[tupe]

Nice shot . . . how do you get leaves on your trees?Location, location, location.

[tupe]

yup, looks like a cardinal to me :)
Nice shot ;)Thanks, folks.

I dunno if it's a cardinal, but I'm pretty sure this is a cardinal:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,433576,00.jpg

:)

[Surefire_Spanky_Light]

Thanks, folks.

I dunno if it's a cardinal, but I'm pretty sure this is a cardinal:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,1658,433576,00.jpg

:)

Yep that looks more like a Cardinal to me:lol:
Take a look here http://www.birdsforever.com/finch.html

[robertwgross]

It might be a House Finch. However, due to the shape of the bill, I might guess that it is a Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator. It is kind of a Northern bird.

---Bob Gross---

[tupe]

I think some people call them Purple Headed Finches, but I think the proper common name is House Finch. That is the male the female is all brown. I had a pair build a nest in a hanging basket last year.Thanks - I think you've nailed it. This fellow:

http://forum.50birds.com/uploads/Arhoogaha/2004-07-25_220834_house_finch_on_pine_tree.jpg

looks very similar.

[RJSorensen]

This is what a house finch is to me: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57679

[Wayne Wood]

[B]I'm pretty sure its not a cardinal male or female it does however look like it could be a house finch or a purple finch

[AdamG]

We have these guys in Northeast PA and they're house finches. Actually, they're my most prolific bird feeder visitors. Nice shot!

[tupe]

It's true - your bird and mine really don't look quite the same, RJ.

I looked at your thread and found this site: http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?guide=Birds

After about 20 minutes of picking and choosing, I tried the house finch (carpodacus mexicanus) again and found this pic:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Photo/Images/h5190p3.jpg The back of that bird is practically identical to mine.

Seems we have different looks at the same bird. Maybe it's because your bird is fluffed/puffed out. I saw a mockingbird do that the other day - really changed its appearance. (It was about 75 degrees (24C) here when I took that shot.)

[RJSorensen]

Interesting therad on 'little birds.' I enjoy the learning as much as the 'shooting,' well after dark anyway, You did your homework on this one.

[tupe]

Interesting thread on 'little birds.' I enjoy the learning as much as the 'shooting,' well after dark anyway, You did your homework on this one.Thanks, Rod. And yet after all my efforts to rationalize the obvious differences, I have to agree. Your bird and mine aren't the same bird.

In another forum someone mentioned the Cassin's finch, and it looks to be the spittin image of your bird:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/CASFIN/

[PacAce]

You can count my vote for house finch. These guys are at my feeder all the time, except during the winter. It's also possible that it could be the purple finch but they have more red all over compared to the house finch.