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Hi Birdwatchers!
With this being a good winter for Purple Finches in Georgia, many of you have asked the difference between Purple Finches and House Finches. They look very similar, but there are a few tricks to telling them apart. And you could easily have both at your bird feeders right now, especially if you stock their favorite - Black Oil Sunflower!
House Finches are year-round residents and are fairly common. Purple Finches do not breed in Georgia - they are considered uncommon winter visitors. "Winter" can last from early October through late April, so any birds you see during the summer months are House Finches.
 | House Finch (female)
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 | House Finch (male)
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Male Purple Finches have a beautiful reddish/purple color on their heads, back, flanks, rump and wings with a white belly. They look like they were dipped in raspberry sauce! Male House Finches can show the same vivid red color, or be pink or orange; but their color is limited to the head, chest and rump. The color does not continue into their wings, which are streaky brown. Male House Finches usually have brown streaked flanks, where Purple Finches do not.
 | Purple Finch female
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 | Purple Finch male
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Female Purple Finches and House Finches are both brown streaked birds, but the Purple Finches show a bold white "eyebrow" and dark lateral throat-stripe and have an overall more contrasting pattern, with bold streaks on the belly. House Finches are a paler brown, with a plain head pattern with blurry flank and belly streaks.
If you are ever unsure, try to snap a photo and post it to our Facebook page and we can help you ID it! We love it when customers share their photos!
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20-40% Off!!! |  | |
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