We have a lot of House Finches in the neighborhood.
I love this picture because of the cowlick.
Male House Finches have bright-red breasts.
Females have the same brown stripes, but no red.
Many people are not excited by House Finches because they’re so common, but they have such lovely songs and they’re such photogenic birds. In California, I took some of the best pictures ever and the pictures were of House Finches.
These males have some yellow in their crown. I’m not sure if this is a regional variation or a fluke. Or perhaps they all have this but I don’t have enough close-up pictures.
I leave you with an action shot:
We have a nest of three extremely fuzzy house finch babies on a window ledge, safe under an awing at my place. I can see their shadow when I walk down the stairs. I only glance when I go outside, even though they are right above a noise making door, mom is pretty shy. The biggest baby stands tall with his mouth OPEN.
You are so lucky!