Thursday 2 December 2010: Purple Finch

Finches
Common name for small PASSERIFORMES in the family Fringillidae. They have a short stout bill (BEAK) adapted for crushing SEEDS. Some species of Old World finches are called CANARIES.


Field marks.--The adult male purple finch is easily recognized by its color; no other sparrowlike bird of that size is similarly colored in rosy crimson. The female is marked more like a sparrow, but its markings are more like stripes, its bill is much heavier, and its tail is sharply emarginate. The immature male resembles the female.

The adult winter plumage is acquired by a complete postnuptial molt, beginning in July or early August, at which old and young birds become indistinguishable, the males assuming the pink plumage. Dwight (1900) describes the male as follows: "Above, pale geranium-red (often carmine or brick-red), hoary on the pileum and nape, the feathers of the back with dusky shaft lines and broad greenish buff edgings. Below, a hoary geranium-pink blending into white on abdomen and crissum, the flanks buffy with a few dusky streaks. Wings and tail clove-brown the edgings tinged with pale brick-red."

Okay, so Santa came early and delivered a Nikkor 300mm, f4 lens yesterday, in a wild rainstorm. I've been busy today. It's hefty, auto focusses slower than my 18-200mm, but I think with practice and stronger muscles, I can manage it. Because I couldn't decide, here are some others.

Full plummage

Papa Sparrow

Red Bellied Woodpecker at a distance.

• NIKON D90:
• f/4.5:
• 1/1250":
• 300mm:
• ISO 200

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