geoffs@brl-tgr.ARPA (Geoffrey Sauerborn ) (08/07/85)
What is a House __________? We used to call House Finches, Purple Finches. Although they aren't really purple at all. The male is a rusty maroon about the head, throat, and wing and tail feathers. Not surprisingly females are relatively drab next to the males. They have a most sociable behavior getting along very well (it seems) with themselves as well as other birds. They seem to go around in groups of 3-5 even during the nesting season. In contrast to the sociability of House Finches, English Sparrows seem to always be squabbling! When I hear this talk of "House Sparrows" - are you talking about English Sparrows?? (Gag me with a Starling!) Maybe a "House Sparrow" is a Song Sparrow? (Quite another story). Geoff
myers@uwmacc.UUCP (Latitudinarian Lobster) (08/08/85)
> > We used to call House Finches, Purple Finches. Although they aren't > really purple at all. The male is a rusty maroon about the head, > throat, and wing and tail feathers. Not surprisingly females are > relatively drab next to the males. Well, House Finches and Purple Finches are two distinct species which look quite alike, but have much different ranges. One of these days I have got to bring a couple of books in to work so that I can be more specific! > > When I hear this talk of "House Sparrows" - are you talking > about English Sparrows?? (Gag me with a Starling!) Maybe a "House > Sparrow" is a Song Sparrow? (Quite another story). > Geoff Hm...never heard of an English Sparrow, but I believe that the House Sparrow (male has a black throat and grey cap, females drab brown with beige eyestripe), which is actually a Weaver Finch, did come from England, so maybe that is your local name for a House Sparrow? Song Sparrows have a nice, varietous song, whereas House Sparrows let forth constant, annoying chirps. Two weeks ago I was dumb enough to sit under a tree at dusk in an area where House Sparrows had been munching popcorn. Then I was stubborn enough not to move, even after being hit thrice by falling feces. At least they weren't Canadian Geese.
gh@utai.UUCP (Graeme Hirst) (08/11/85)
> We used to call House Finches, Purple Finches. > Geoff House finches and purple finches are different species. The house finch is smaller and has a different song; the male purple finch has a much richer color. See Petersen's Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies, page 270 (4th edition), for more details. (I assume the West-of-the-Rockies edition also lists them.) -- \\\\ Graeme Hirst University of Toronto Computer Science Department //// utcsri!utai!gh / gh.toronto@csnet-relay / 416-978-8747