Tricky Finches: Must Be Careful

Amy's comment yesterday is well taken: "Tricky Finches" indeed! We all must be careful with our efforts to identify Purple Finches, at least when House Finches are the norm. Our city's nature center receives many calls from residents certain they've seen the Purple Finches (and didn't). And while I am 99% certain I detected them here yesterday -- thanks to distinct female finch field marks. The males are a tougher ID exercise. I am not certain I can prove one is about yet. Two days' of photography hasn't yielded clear enough images. And those that are, like this one on the right, show me a House Finch. Probably the best mark is whether the cap is brown or bright red. I see enough brown to cast doubt this is a Purple Finch. And so it goes, we must be careful and adopt Occam's Razor -- the simplest explanation is best. Stay skeptical, my friends! These guys are tricky!