Finch ID

[Dinusaur]

Found them in Downsview Park on Oct 11. Please help with the ID.

#1 & #2: Pine Siskin?



#3: Purple Finch?

[Rotarran]

Pine Siskin for sure.  2nd bird I think is House Finch.  Nice ones for the park, please submit to eBird if you haven't already.  The more species we find there, the more attention it will get from other birders and the more attention it gets from birders and naturalists, the higher the likelyhood that it'll be saved from further damage and construction.

Whereabouts in Downsview did you see the Pine Siskins?  They're a lifer for me...elusive little guys lol.  Although they're probably gone...I birded the whole park on Sunday for several hours and only saw Goldfinches but no Siskins.

[Dinusaur]

Thanks Rotarran.  Pine Siskin was also a lifer for me - on Saturday I found them north of the woodlot are by the circuit road; soon after the RTH landed on a nearby lamp post. Saturday morning was abuzz with migrating birds; however,  after overnight frost Sunday became very quiet even though it was such a gorgeous day. Purple Finch would have been be lifer - ah well, the search continues.

[Rotarran]

Yeah Purple Finch can be unpredictable...a common Finch trait it seems.  But you should be able to get them in Algonquin if all else fails.  An easy way to tell them apart is that brown patch on the cheek that Purple Finches lack but House Finches (like the bird in your picture) have.

[cairnstone]

Pine Siskins have been showing up over the last few weeks in Carleton Park in Brampton. Usually one or two at a time, however, I just ran into a flock of at least 20 noisy and chattering siskins. The thing about Pine Siskins is that they are constantly on the move. You can see a flock one minute then they vanish. I generally find them by their noisy bickering chatter.

I think the forecast for winter finches is more promising this season. I don't think I had one siskin or redpoll at my feeders last winter whereas the previous winter I had hundreds.

[Reuven_M]

Learn the flight calls for finches - it helps immensely. I've had Pine Siskins and Purple Finches practically every time I've gone birding in the last couple of weeks, essentially always due to hearing their flight calls.

[Rotarran]

Learn the flight calls for finches - it helps immensely. I've had Pine Siskins and Purple Finches practically every time I've gone birding in the last couple of weeks, essentially always due to hearing their flight calls.

Thanks Reuven.  Do you know where I could obtain recordings of their flight calls?  I have seen plenty of passerine flocks flying overhead but rarely do I know what they are...unless they're Blackbirds which are easy to ID.  I know the Goldfinch flight calls...are Siskins anywhere close to that?  

PS: Dinusaur I saw a female Purple Finch at the Seton Park feeders behind the Ontario Science Centre.  These are feeders on the south side of the pond along the path that's somewhat parallel to Eglinton.  There's a nice man named Douglas who frequently refills the nyjer, mixed seeds and suet.  As a result you can see a very nice variety of birds in a short amount of time.  I have a feeling we may soon see Siskins at that location as well.  Or so I hope at least.  :wink:

[beresford]

The best website I've found is xeno-canto... they have a huge database with dozens and in many circumstances hundreds of recordings.

www.xeno-canto.org

It's awesome!
Tim

[Rotarran]

The best website I've found is xeno-canto... they have a huge database with dozens and in many circumstances hundreds of recordings.

http://www.xeno-canto.org

It's awesome!
Tim

Thanks Tim!

[Rotarran]

Need an objective look at these two shots.   I'm thinking House Finch but the small bill is throwing me off a bit.  

[Reuven_M]

House finch

[Rotarran]

Thank you

[cairnstone]

After more than a year absent from my feeders, Pine Siskins have returned. These taken this evening.