March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
December 20, 2007
Mystery bird
I saw this guy last weekend not far from the Celery Farm’s Butterfly Garden.
With my meager birding skills, I can’t quite figure out what it is.
My first guess was house finch, but it just didn’t quite seem right.
Purple finch and redpoll, I figure, are the other prime suspects.
Can anybody help?
Thanks.
7 comments
-
Now, that I live in Japan I miss all the “Junk birds” EVEN house finches!
-
I think it’s a fantastic picture. And the “ratty looking” comment really made me laugh. It reminded me of a great birding friend who has since moved to Japan. He would have described the house finch as a “junk bird”!
Cheers!
D -
Nice pic! Where was this taken?
I’m guessing purple finch or house finch. The Purple Finch has a plumper body with a fairly large head and short, conical bill. The tail is shorter and deeply notched,
and the house finch usually has more brown on its head than a purple finch.
It is hard to tell, even with my glasses on!
Let us know when you have a definitive answer!
Alison Evans-Fragale -
I’m a novice, but it looks like the house finches that have been hanging around my feeders. Ratty? Hardly? Merry Christmas to you and yours, and the red bird, and of course, to Ace and the coming brood!
-
Thanks much. Did you have to stick in that “ratty-looking” part? 😉
-
It looks like a house finch to me. Too red and streaky for a purple, too much of a red head and the wrong bill for a redpoll. Just a ratty looking house finch.
-
Common Redpoll, maybe
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 3, 2026
First Review: ‘The Peregrine Falcon’
I am pleased to share Booklist's magazine of my upcoming book... The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of…February 27, 2026
Revolutionary News!
On Thursday, the Allendale Borough Council plans to honor Founding Father John Fell, who was known as the "Great Tory…
February 20, 2026
World’s Largest Pigeon!
For a limited time only, The High Line in Manhattan is home to "Dinosaur," a huge statue of a pigeon…
7 comments
Bob
Now, that I live in Japan I miss all the “Junk birds” EVEN house finches!
Diana & Jeff
I think it’s a fantastic picture. And the “ratty looking” comment really made me laugh. It reminded me of a great birding friend who has since moved to Japan. He would have described the house finch as a “junk bird”!
Cheers!
D
Alison
Nice pic! Where was this taken?
I’m guessing purple finch or house finch. The Purple Finch has a plumper body with a fairly large head and short, conical bill. The tail is shorter and deeply notched,
and the house finch usually has more brown on its head than a purple finch.
It is hard to tell, even with my glasses on!
Let us know when you have a definitive answer!
Alison Evans-Fragale
Chrissy
I’m a novice, but it looks like the house finches that have been hanging around my feeders. Ratty? Hardly? Merry Christmas to you and yours, and the red bird, and of course, to Ace and the coming brood!
jim wright
Thanks much. Did you have to stick in that “ratty-looking” part? 😉
Dave Kaplan
It looks like a house finch to me. Too red and streaky for a purple, too much of a red head and the wrong bill for a redpoll. Just a ratty looking house finch.
Betsy Thomas
Common Redpoll, maybe