Purple finches in Greendale

[Gord]

My parents had three purple finches at their feeder today and yesterday. Two males and a female. Never a common species in the winter. I think Ive only seen 4 or 5 at once at the feeders and that was rare.

Beautiful males. One (actually both) really glowed so purply-wine red that when we first saw it (it flew as we came to the window) we didnt know what it was until it came back.

[fouram]

(Dave)--Sorry--I meant "Gord" , these are the Finches that have become rather "regulars" here at my feeder, finally got sunny in the afternoon, so took a photo opportunity

[Gord]

Good work on the pictures! If you see my 'edit' on your post, it was just to fix a picture. The message cut off an ']' and the second picture didnt show up at first.

Do you get too many house sparrows at your feeder? Great to see finches even in the middle of town and making themselves room at the feeder.

[fouram]

The "English Sparrows" are a plague on the feeders! They are messy, and regularly put the run on other birds .I am sure that there are "House Sparrows" here although my id ability is still a little shaky with so many varieties. I am sure, as well, that I have had the odd Savannah. The finches (not to steal any thunder) are regular House Finches, although there may have been the "odd" Purple when I first began feeding. The Goldfinches have not been here for some time, even though the Niger feeder has been kept stocked. Further to that note, I cleaned out the niger feeder yesterday, and even with the rain shield found a bit of a mess on the bottom level of the feeder, which may have decided the Goldfinches to feed elsewhere ? The bird that I was sure was a Chipping Sparrow, has not been here for quite some time, the deciding identification for me was the evidence of a whitish "beard" on the throat as well as the two yelowish streaks or "horns" above the eyes. I seem, as well to have the odd bird that is "crippled" or generally seems to be sick (usually not the Sparrows) is this normal? I assume a ready and easily available food supply may be responsible for keeping some of these fellows alive ---Al