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Re: A theory and miscellaneous...
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Re: A theory and miscellaneous...
- From: "Donna S. Bailey" <dsbailey@conterra.com>
- Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 22:44:08 -0500
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
While my memory grows creakier with each passing day, I do seem to remember
reading somewhere that older female Purple Finches could develop a pink wash
across the breast, much as adult female Hooded Warblers sometimes have an
almost complete "hood" and adult female Wilson's Warblers sometimes have a
"black cap" nearly as extensive as the males. Still, the young male Purple
Finches should show pink across the breast and at least a pink flush in the
face, while the older females would have no pink in the face.
But, yes, Janine, in general, the sex ratio at my feeders seems to run
pretty close to 1:1. Usually, there is one more male than females and I
don't think that is a "bias of the eye". I have an easier time picking out
female Purple Finches that male Purple Finches because the female's white is
so bright and "clean" amongst the buffier House Finches. As a matter of
fact, last Sunday around here when the weather was nasty and I watched the
feeder all day, eventualy tallying twenty Purple Finches in view at one
time, the crowd was mostly male - there were 12 or 13 males to 7 or 8 females.
As for those of you wanting Pine Siskins at your feeders, could you e-mail
me directions to your feeders? I'll post them for the Pine Siskins at my
feeders. They are about to eat me out of house and home! I've installed a
second thistle feeder for just for them. Last Sunday, there were 40 Pine
Siskins at my feeder at one time! So far the high number for Pine Siskins
is 48 (yes, all in view at one time). I guess between the big sweetgum
trees and the bountiful thistle, they consider this a "five star"
establishment! Seriously, anyone needing Pine Siskins for a year list or a
county list or especially a life list, give me a call or an e-mail and we'll
get you up here to see the "striped eating machines".
Donna Bailey
Winnsboro, SC
e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
"Where are the Birds? Migration across South Carolina"
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey/audubon
"Columbia Audubon Society"