CLOSED: Need help with this bird

I think it's a Pine Sisken however, it looks like a female House Finch. They look so much alike, at least to me.

Thanks


This message was edited Dec 28, 2008 8:24 PM

2nd shot

Hi Met...looks like a female Purple Finch to me. The Pine Siskin has a very pointed beak.

Ditto to female Purple Finch

Resin

Man my Bird ID'g skills need help.

Thanks

Also looks like a female Purple Finch to me but I'm not an expert. Please tell me (or better, show me) the pictures of the female Purple and female House finches. Those two look so much alike it's really hard to tell them apart.

Ann

Female House Finch has a blander, less well-marked face, without those two pale stripes; also its bill is more curved on top.

Resin

Thank you, Resin. I have looked at pictures until I'm blue in the face. Those are certainly subtle differences. I'll check that all out again.

Ann

Hey Dellrose I just compared the 2 birds and I can definitely see the difference in the beaks. I will pay attention to birds beaks that look similar to me as that may be the tell tell sign.

Resin, the 2 pictures I compared (all about birds site) of the Female Pine Sisken and the Female House Finch, it looks like the house finch has the 2 pale stripes around the eyes unless you are talking about some other pale stripes. Let me know.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pine_Siskin.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/House_Finch.html



Thanks

This message was edited Dec 30, 2008 9:09 AM

Very faint, hardly visible at all - compare with your photos which show very obvious white eyebrow and 'moustache'.

Resin

Here are side by side pix of the pine siskin and the female purple finch this fall.

You can clearly see the "eyebrow" on the female purple finch on the right.

That is a GREAT picture mrs ed, very helpful. I think you should add it to both the siskin and finch entries in bird files (with appropriate labels of course) because it really helps to see them together like that.

Ah, that's a good idea. maybe a female house finch along with them.

Excellent idea...last year was so confusing trying to see the difference!