Comments on: Purple Finch! http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:18:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: vanilla http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-397 vanilla Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:46:13 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-397 Thanks for the heads up on the larger and more-detailed volumne, Elanus. And Vireo.....another book it is! :) If you get the answer to the possibility of a newer and expanded volumne, please post here for all of us to see. Thanks for the heads up on the larger and more-detailed volumne, Elanus. And Vireo…..another book it is! :) If you get the answer to the possibility of a newer and expanded volumne, please post here for all of us to see.

]]> By: vireo http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-395 vireo Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:18:38 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-395 That means yet another book to get... :-). I have the set of Western and Eastern Sibley books because they are easier to carry. But if the big version has more plummage variation descriptions, that may be better for understanding Texas birds. There are lots there that I'm sure I won't know. Also, it's possible for lots of vagrants from further south. Anyone know if it's best to wait to get the larger one in case Sibley updates that one soon? That means yet another book to get… :-). I have the set of Western and Eastern Sibley books because they are easier to carry. But if the big version has more plummage variation descriptions, that may be better for understanding Texas birds. There are lots there that I’m sure I won’t know. Also, it’s possible for lots of vagrants from further south. Anyone know if it’s best to wait to get the larger one in case Sibley updates that one soon?

]]> By: elanus http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-393 elanus Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:55:39 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-393 The Western edition of the Sibley book is nice; I really like having it to carry around with me when I'm actually bird-watching. But for the really tricky cases, I like having the older, big version of the Sibley guide. It has additional illustrations showing more plumage variations. The Western edition of the Sibley book is nice; I really like having it to carry around with me when I’m actually bird-watching. But for the really tricky cases, I like having the older, big version of the Sibley guide. It has additional illustrations showing more plumage variations.

]]> By: vanilla http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-390 vanilla Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:13:57 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-390 I had a bit of trouble getting the November 1st shot and was hoping to get more....but the finch moved on; what struck me was his beautiful coloring. It was really exciting to get your IDs on this, as I was thinking house finch. Elanus, you are right when you so often comment that there are always surprises around the corner. I am sure that will hold true in Southern Texas, as well. Robin...I agree with you about the Sibley's book. I just got my copy for western birds last week and it has already proven itself invaluable. I'm looking forward to looking over his site recommended by one of the CONE birders before the shut-down. (And I don't work for Knopf either.) ;) Linda I had a bit of trouble getting the November 1st shot and was hoping to get more….but the finch moved on; what struck me was his beautiful coloring. It was really exciting to get your IDs on this, as I was thinking house finch. Elanus, you are right when you so often comment that there are always surprises around the corner. I am sure that will hold true in Southern Texas, as well.

Robin…I agree with you about the Sibley’s book. I just got my copy for western birds last week and it has already proven itself invaluable. I’m looking forward to looking over his site recommended by one of the CONE birders before the shut-down. (And I don’t work for Knopf either.) ;)

Linda

]]> By: robin55 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-317 robin55 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:12:14 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/11/02/purple-finch/#comment-317 Hah ! I really have to thank artemis and kitcat for their courage, I just opened the door a little and followed . This bird looked so different to me . It seemed bigger overall, the color was more raspberry than the pinkish plumage HF have and I can really see a much heavier beak in vanilla's 10/31 shot. I think the last shot is a HF. The color is pretty pure , not muddy like a PF , the breast and belly of the bird are not streaked enough. And I think you are correct about the head shape too. Sibley's Guide has been mentioned several times in comments and here too. I invested in a copy recently. All of my field guides are for the east coast.It made me nuts sometimes not having a real guide to western birds. Sibley has been an eye opener for me . The illustrations of different plumages are really useful,( especially those damned fall warblers !) his descriptions are clear , it covers the whole country. Not good in the field , but good to have in the car when you are out birding. (No I don't work for Knopf ! ) Hah ! I really have to thank artemis and kitcat for their courage, I just opened the door a little and followed . This bird looked so different to me . It seemed bigger overall, the color was more raspberry than the pinkish plumage HF have and I can really see a much heavier beak in vanilla’s 10/31 shot. I think the last shot is a HF. The color is pretty pure , not muddy like a PF , the breast and belly of the bird are not streaked enough. And I think you are correct about the head shape too. Sibley’s Guide has been mentioned several times in comments and here too. I invested in a copy recently. All of my field guides are for the east coast.It made me nuts sometimes not having a real guide to western birds. Sibley has been an eye opener for me . The illustrations of different plumages are really useful,( especially those damned fall warblers !) his descriptions are clear , it covers the whole country. Not good in the field , but good to have in the car when you are out birding. (No I don’t work for Knopf ! )

]]>