Sparrow Dipped In Raspberry Juice

Day 205: For all of the fact that David Sibley's bird illustrations are often even better than real life because he has placed subtle emphasis on critical field identification points, you cannot beat Roger Tory Peterson's lyrical descriptions. Take Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) for example. Of its colouration, Peterson says that it looks like a "sparrow dipped in raspberry juice." How apt! Without its pinkish wash, this bird would be just one more LBJ ("Little Brown Job"), and indeed the females are just that, although their heavier bills will clue observant birders into their true nature. Both Sibley and Peterson point to the blurry breast markings to distinguish this species from House Finch. I say, "Houses have shingles," i.e., strong brown flecks on the breast, whereas Purples look like their dye jobs ran down their shirt fronts in the rain. Cassin's (another similar species) could almost be said to be a blend of the two. It has streaked flanks only slightly lighter than those of House Finch, but the blurry breast markings of Purple. A trained eye can distinguish brighter red on Cassin's crown, although this feature is fairly difficult to detect. Good luck to you if you live in an area where the ranges overlap as they do here!