Two New Yard Birds

The northwest winds these last couple of days have pushed many birds south. It is a good time to keep an eye out for anything different as well as northern species that irrupt.  Red-breasted Nuthatches have arrived and it looks as though it may also be a good winter for Purple Finches in our area as many are being reported.

Today I had the first Purple Finches at my feeders, all females (above). Note the bold white supercillium and white underparts. The similar looking female House Finch lacks the supercillium and is rarely white below, tending to be very dingy looking, and overall lack the contrast that female Purple Finches show.

A greater surprise was an uncommon (at least here in the east) Clay-colored Sparrow (above) yesterday. These are very similar in appearance to the common Chipping Sparrows, and easily overlooked. A pale lore and strong mustache and malar outlining the white malar stripe, sets it apart.