house_finch epitome of incomprehensibility I_have_noticed_the_birds this year more than last, because I don't remember noting this one before. It's maybe slightly bigger than a goldfinch. Brown with a reddish head and neck/chest. I examined it at the feeder, flipped through the pages of Birds of Canada. A lot of red-tinted birdies. I looked at it again, looked at the faded chart on my parents' kitchen wall, checked the book again. Yes, yes, a red patterning that matches. 250403 ... ovenbird We get lots of house finches where I am as well. They were the first bird I learned to identify when I put up a feeder years ago. I wanted to find roots in the place where I live, which is not the place I grew up, and learning the names of birds seemed a good way to start. The house finches came in droves and so they feel like a first friend. 250403 what's it to you? who go blather from