Finches and Euphonias

Common Redpoll - St. Henry's Church, AB During a visit to Southern Alberta to put eyes on some Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch I was able to get some photos of some winter visitors. At St Henry's church, there were several Common Redpolls including this very red fellow. There is a reason that these members of the finch family have the Latin name Flammea, meaning
Common Redpoll - St. Henry's Church, AB
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch - St Henry's Church, AB In the middle of the Alberta prairies stands a little Roman Catholic Church where they feed the birds through out the winter. This year there was a good deal of Gray-crowned Rosy-finch as well as a number of Redpolls making good use of the feeder. St. Henry's Church was built in 1906 and is still today in use for services. The finches came in two varieties, one being Gray-capped and the other was Hepburn's. This is a Gray-capped and with the Hepburn's having gray under the eye as well. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch - St Henry's Church, AB
Lesser Goldfinch - Pincher Creek, AB During a winter trip to southern Alberta, a quick look at the eBird rarities and an amazing find at a feeder in Pincher Creek had me make a quick stop in a residential area near the center of town. This yellow and black finch is certainly a long way from his usual range, especially during the cold winter months. Lesser Goldfinch have been breeding as far north as Osoyoos, BC in recent years and that seemed like a screech based on their regular territory typically not travelling further north than Oregon. For one to be in Alberta in the winter is completely another. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Lesser Goldfinch - Pincher Creek, AB
Common Redpoll - Frank Lake, AB The Redpoll is an iconic winter finch at feeders where temperatures are below freezing. These hardy little birds are residents of the farthest northern climates in the summer and are circum-polar meaning they live in areas all the way around the top of the earth. The red patch on the top of the forehead sets them apart from Pine Siskins with a slightly more delicate call. The males also get a red wash on their belly in breeding season. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Common Redpoll - Frank Lake, AB
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch - Pitt Lake, BC When the snow hits the mountains hard here, the Rosy-Finch have very little to eat, so they travel down the mountain to get their stomachs full. This was the same group of storms that dumped so much rain on the area, we had flooding of entire cities like Abbotsford. There were two birds here in the parking lot of Pitt Lake Boat Launch. They were relatively unbothered with the folks wandering around only moving if some unsuspecting group came to close. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Gray-crowned Rosy-finch - Pitt Lake, BC
American Goldfinch - Colony Farms, BC A very common garden bird around most of North America, this little finch is always on the look out for thistle plants. They can be found in pairs with the male singing and calling when on the wing. They will come to feeders where there are sunflower or safflower chips or black thistle seed. There are three species of Goldfinch in North America with this bird being the most common, followed by the Lesser Goldfinch, which is found on the west coast and south west states to Texas. The last is the Lawrence's Goldfinch only found in California, Arizona and a small section of New Mexico. Michael W Klotz 2021 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
American Goldfinch - Colony Farms, BC
Pine Grosbeak - Maplewood Flats, BC These large finches are a treat for us in the winter as they are not regular visitors. Most of the finch population has what they call irruptive migration. That is, they follow the food and can show up any time during the winter months and not be seen for a couple of years after. This group of four quiet finches were after the Pacific Crab Apples in Maplewood flats. The adult males are quite a bit more red. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Pine Grosbeak - Maplewood Flats, BC
Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch - Iona Island, BC Once or twice a year we are lucky to get a view of a Gray-Crowned Rosy-finch down towards sea level. This year the spot was Iona Island, which is very close to the Vancouver Airport. Many of the usual suspects were down grabbing a photo of the bird which
Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch - Iona Island, BC