Red and Orange House Finches in Regina Backyard

We've enjoyed seeing both red and yellow-orange House Finches in our Regina, SK, backyard this spring. Although the red ones are the brightest, they are also the most frequent visitors.  I love seeing these lovely birds flaunting other colours!

One of the yellow-orange House Finches that's visited our lilac bushes  ©SB

A scarlet House Finch and one that's more peachy, feeding during late snow.  ©SB

The male House Finches get the flashy shades; females have softer plain brown streaks.  ©SB

House Finch in April snow.  ©SB

And, one last orange House Finch at the black sunflower feeder.  ©SB

What are these? House Finches
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 
Photo dates: April 4-8, 2015. 

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The Four-legged Reason We Have So Few House Finches

And now, the reason we have had so few House Finches in our neighbourhood this winter... Or, one reason, at least. I'm sure most finches migrate south — though in past few years (until last year), several stayed and brightened our Regina, SK, backyard.

But we now have a killer in our midst... A cat.

Oh, look at the Christmas present the neighbour's cat caught!  © SB

Don't get me wrong: I love cats. Almost as much as I love dogs.

But I don't love cats that prowl our streets killing song birds and other lovely feathered things.

Inside their houses. That's where I love cats. Pampered killers shouldn't be set loose to attack fragile prey.

And when was this shot taken? Christmas Day, 2013. (Merry Christmas, Cat. You got a good one. But not yet, for the record, the House Finches in the previous post... They were still singing mid-March, 2014.)


What is this? A neighbourhood cat, carrying in its teeth the House Finch it caught.  

Location: In front of my house, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: December 25, 2013. 

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Bright Red House Finch — with Mate! (Is It Spring?)

It must be Spring: A brilliantly scarlet House Finch arrived in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard this week — along with a more subdued, brown-streaked female. A mating pair!

Male House Finch in fresh spring colours. © SB

A pair of House Finches! © SB

(Spring, indeed, with several feet of snow still covering our garden... Well, I can hope...)


What are these? House Finches 

Location: My backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: March 15, 2014. 

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Pin-striped House Finch with Snowflakes

Male House Finch waiting for a spot at the bird feeder © SB

I would have been happier to see this magnificently striped House Finch in the lilac bushes this morning, if he hadn't been modelling the latest in spring snowflakes!

(Yes, still snowing, but we know the melt is on the way and the water birds will rejoice when they see all the new lakes and ponds Saskatchewan plans to provide for them in 2013...)

Close-up of House Finch, with snowflakes.   © SB

What is this? A male House Finch

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. (Photo taken, as with most of my backyard pix of House Finches, redpolls and other birds, through the dining room window.) 

Photo date: March 27, 2013. 

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House Finches: scarlet and brown feeder birds

House Finches frequently visit our backyard bird feeder in Regina, Saskatchewan — and when they perch nearby in the sun, the males' feathers are amazingly bright!  

The male House Finch has a brown crown and bright markings on his head, chest and back — the latter is often visible as a flash of red between his wings. The female, as below, is a more subdued brown and white bird. 

Male House Finch; backyard   © SB

Female House Finch; backyard   © SB

What are these? House Finches.  
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. 
Photo dates: February 8, 2013. 

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House Finches: Scarlet, Rose and Yellow

With the first snow, the House Finch flocks to feeders, their rose, scarlet and yellow feathers a bright flash of colour against the dull winter sky.

These sparrow-sized birds are fairly common here, and all of these photos were taken through our dining room window, looking out onto the lilac bushes in the backyard. It was snowing lightly, and the white blurs, streaks and spots in the images are snowflakes — and the birds have their feathers fluffed up because of the cold.

What are these? House Finches. The first two are red/rose, the next three a bright scarlet/orange, and the last House Finch, a golden yellow. 
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan. 
Photo dates: November 6, 2011. 

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