The red on cardueline finches is a different red from that on cardinals and
tanagers. The house finch red is dependent on biochemical processing of
certain nutrients in their diets. I used to have a reference for this, but
I can't find it at the moment. Out west, it is not uncommon to see house
finches ranging from deep rose through pink to orange and even yellow.
I personally believe that the process is hormone-linked as well. It seems
to me that western house finches are all pretty uniform by the middle of the
breeding season.
Cheers,
BOB¢¼
On Jan 18, 2008 10:20 PM, Al La Sala <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I saw a large flock of about 15-20 house finches at Sharon Woods Metropark
> about 2 weeks ago with both orange and red finches.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Heather Nagy
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:51 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Finch of a different Color
>
> Bruce, about a quarter of the house finches that come to my feeders in the
> wintertime are orange, but I rarely see one in the summer. The past few
> weeks I've had about 10 to 15 orange (or yellowish) finches hanging
> around.
>
> Heather Nagy
> Licking County
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Bruce
> Miller
> Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 6:00 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Finch of a different Color
>
> Just a plain old house finch, but I don't remember ever seeing an orange
> one, except in pictures.
> At my feeder, Columbus, OH
>
> Are these guys common, just not to me?
>
> http://redtail.smugmug.com/photos/244739368-L.jpg
>
> http://redtail.smugmug.com/photos/244739540-L.jpg
>
> http://redtail.smugmug.com/photos/244739072-L.jpg
>
> Happy Birding,
>
> Bruce Miller
> Columbus, OH
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--
Robert D Powell
Wilmington, OH, USA
[log in to unmask]
http://rdp1710.wordpress.com
Nulla dies sine linea
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