Monday, April 25, 2016

Purple Finches at our Regina Backyard Bird Feeder

Purple Finch. Copyright © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved
Purple Finch, backyard, Regina, SK  © SB
The Purple Finches have arrived at our Regina, SK, backyard bird feeders.

What beautiful birds! The males glow rosy red in the sunlight, and the brown-and-white females have crisp, distinctive markings.

These Purple Finches are larger than our usual pin-striped House Finches — a size difference that is especially noticeable when comparing the females.

A flock of six to eight female Purple Finches arrived Saturday, settling first into our crab apple tree in the front yard to eat new shoots. (Or bugs from new shoots?)

Within a few hours, they moved over to the lilac trees at the back to investigate our feeders. The next day, three males flew in to join them.

The Purple Finch flock is still around today, too, but won't stay long.


Purple Finches. Copyright © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved
One male and many female Purple Finches  © SB

Purple Finch. Copyright © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved
Purple Finch, Regina, SK  © SB
Purple Finches.  Copyright © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved
Two female Purple Finches, left; female and male House Finch, right. © SB

What are these? Purple Finches (with a pair of House Finches) - Roselin pourpré
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photo dates: April 23 - 25, 2016.

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