1st Round

2nd Round

8 May 2010
Weisse – Reject, specific identification not established

8 July 2010
Cliff Weisse--Reject, specific identification not established

Same Comments

05-09-2010
Sturts--Accept

On this first round, I'm voting to accept. I have a feeling that it will go to a 2nd round. I am always skeptical of female Purple Finch reports. I am voting to accept on the basis of what I see in the photos.
The strong face pattern plus the lack of any streaking on the undertail coverts. The "The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding Vol 3" show these as two of the main field marks. I have seen a lot of variation in he head pattern of the Cassin's at my feeder but I have not paid attention to the undertail coverts. I lack experience with Purple Finch and I will be interested in seeing the commennts of other committee members.

07-03-2010
Sturts --Reject, specific identification not established

The undertail coverts look like they mostly lack strips and the observer indicates clear under tail coverts (which is a field mark for Purple) but two of the photos do appear to show one strip. One photo shows a a eye-ring or eye-arcs, which is a field mark for the Cassin's. The strong face markings lean toward Purple, but since there is such a variation in head markings in Cassin's, this is not conclusive. I am not convinced one way or the other on the identification. For this reason I'm changing my vote not accept this record as a Purple Finch. female.

05-20-2010
Darren Clark--Accept

I went back and forth with this bird, but the facial pattern seems quite strong. The bill looks right (though it is hard to tell), and the white undertail coverts is good. The streaking looks crisp (wrong for Purple Finch), but when I did a google image search I found Purple Finches with similar streaking.

06-28-2010
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

I'm learning a lot about Purple Finch ID. After looking at more pictures and reading comments from others I'm changing my vote to Reject.

23 May 2010
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

This is a difficult record to assess. The reporter noted that these birds were distinctive in comparison to Cassin's. The photos don't clearly show the bill shape, or buffy wash on the flanks. Though the crown appears rounded and not crested like a Cassin's, there is a fairly obvious light eyering. I'd like to see further discussion on this record by other members.

15 July 2010
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

Same comments as first round.

5-28-10
chuck trost--Reject, specific identification not established

While the pictures look good, I wasn't able to tell the bill shape, and the primary length looked more like that of Cassin's finches to me. I wasn't convinced that these are not bright colored Cassin's.

6-29-10
chuck trost--Reject, specific identification not established

Again, the bills are blurred and I can't see a curved culmen. The breast streaks looks more like Cassin's Finch to me.

06-26-2010
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

These female-plumaged birds look like Cassin's Finches to me.

07-02-2010
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

I'm rejecting this record again because the bird is a Cassin's Finch.

6-26-10
Carlisle--Reject, specific identification not established

This is tough and I might be convinced by the first picture ... BUT what I see in these pictures are NOT especially compact birds (I think of Purple as being chunkier and not as elongated as Cassin's) and the chest streaking looks more narrow than I'd expect for Purple. And, I see hints of undertail streaks on 2 of the pics... In sum, maybe Purple(s) but I'm not convinced b/c, while the facial pattern looks distinct, I also see characteristics that point towards Cassin's.

6-28-10
Carlisle--Reject, specific identification not established

no change from round 1 (and I agree with Chuck's point about primary projection)