Hi cobirders. Sent pictures of the male "Purple Finch" that has been coming almost daily but doesn't associate with House Finches when they come. An experienced photo person and birder determined it is an House Finch. I have seen many thousands of House Finches and often thy are very variable in color and plumage. My first field guide ( 1950's) was Roger Tory Peterson's Western Bird Guide. It had a section at the back of "sub-species" (no pictures) House Finch had at least a dozen in California (eg: SAN CLEMENTE HOUSE FINCH and small paragraph) also about as many Song Sparrows So sub species used to be a lot more commonly studied or mentioned. I don't do that. Horned Larks had over 20 sub species and in the 1930's National Geographic Magazine published a story on them with color pages of the different types. Thompson Marsh was pleased when they made them all one species. He spent hours in the freezing cold back then studying them. I was glad they separated the Rosy Finches again but hope they do not call Red Crossbills different by the calls they make. I still have good hearing but not good enough to get them. (Of course I am no longer young either) Bob Spencer N.E. of Golden
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