What Bird Is That Forum

This one is really throwing me, Purple or House?
Just now, Palo Pinto County Texas.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QFsov9LQNad1hj8A7

Never mind.

Zoroark wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 4:37 pm Purple Finch!!!!

With that much red on the head and the wings, that's definitely a Purple Finch.

Well that's what I reported it as. But then I started questioning myself wondering how much of my logic was actually wishful thinking.
Thanks!

I've got three people telling me it's a house. Because of the"bold streaking on the flanks"

I guess it could be, and the more curved bill is closer to that of a House Finch, but that's truly a lot more red than I usually see.

Male House Finches can have a lot of red on them. It's the lack of any pink tinge in the wing bars that would have kept me from thinking Purple Finch on this bird.

Take my opinion with two grains of salt, though.

Add a few more grains to the salt pile of uncertainty, but I'd call this a House Finch. It just doesn't have that 'dipped in raspberry juice' look to it that I'm familiar with.

Kevin wrote: Sat Jan 24, 2026 5:20 pm I've got three people telling me it's a house. Because of the"bold streaking on the flanks"

Exactly. And this bird doesn't have enough pigment overall, and what it has is the wrong shade.

Another vote for House Finch.

Thanks everyone! No Purple Finch for me today

Hi old friends!

Late to the party, but this is 100% a House Finch. I've been watching both on my feeders for 20+ years, and I've found the foolproof way to distinguish males is to ignore everything except the wing. If it's grayscale, it's a House Finch, and if it has color, it's a Purple Finch.