IBRC 5-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Purple Finch(purpureus)
HOW MANY: 3 females

REPORTER: Rich Del Carlo 5 Wild Horse Trail Sandpoint ,Id 83864 208 265-8989
REPORTER EMAIL: delcarlo@televar.com
OTHER OBSERVERS: found by Rich Del Carlo Seen by Jennifer Del Carlo 290-1404, Tanner Welch

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 1/7/10
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 12/20/09-1/7/10

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: 5 Wild Horse Trail(jct Selkirk Rd & Wild Horse Trail Sandpoint, Bonner Co. Id
HABITAT: backyard feeders
CONDITIONS: everyday since first sighted 12/20/09 w/ Pentax 10x40 distances 10'-50'.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, during the observation
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, during the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Field Guide to Birds of N.A., Natl. Geo Soc 1983 Sibley Guide to Birds Natl Aud. Soc.2000

DESCRIPTION: Finch-conical bill,call, notched tail,jizz. I was first drawn to the bird by the very bold face pattern which was observable w/out bins. When observed through bins the whitish line above the eye is about 1/8-1/4" wide with a less pronounced line below the eye. Unstreaked white undertail coverts, short dark streaks on breast with a slight tannish flank. Back is streaked light brown similar to a sparrow(nothing like a house finch back)
BEHAVIOR: These birds have been observed feeding with primarily EVGR's & AMGO's at 3 different feeders and on the ground eating blackoil sunflower seeds. They don't seem to interact w/HOFI's and I always see the 3 together.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? I know this is a bit of a rare bird here, so I kept looking at it to be sure it wasn't a Cassin's Finch. I've seen many Cassin's Finches and I felt it wasn't Cassin's. The facial pattern was so bold and obvious and lacked the triangle pattern that I've noticed on Cassin's. The line above the eye is so pronounced. Birds of NA mentions no undertail streaking which is what I've observed on these birds.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? As i mentioned I'm familiar w/ Cassin's Finch. They are uncommon feeder birds here. I ahve looked @ the field guides and @ online id. photos of both bird and the purple finch photos look exactly like the birds here.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I am not all that familiar w/ purple finches, however I am very familiar w/ HOFI & CAFI, and was therfore able to make the identification
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I have been birding for 30 years. I am an expert birder with tremendous observation and awareness skills. I have been invovled in several scientific bird studies,I have run mist nets and there aren't many birds that I miss. Basically I love birds.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo

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