"Pale Male" Cassin's Finch, or Purple Finch?
This was taken at the famous feeder at the Virginia Lakes Resort, so high in the Sierras that Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches are frequent visitors. Cassin's finches are also known in the area, I've seen them at that very feeders, and purple finches also come to that altitude although I haven't seen them in that spot. So... I'm asking the experts - purple finch or Cassin's finch? The experts at inaturalist say "Pale male Cassin's", even the bird is lacking the usual bright red Cassin's "cap", but I'm still not sure.
Pine siskin on the right for scale.
Virginia Lakes Resort, Mono County, Ca. August, 2020.
"Pale Male" Cassin's Finch, or Purple Finch?
This was taken at the famous feeder at the Virginia Lakes Resort, so high in the Sierras that Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches are frequent visitors. Cassin's finches are also known in the area, I've seen them at that very feeders, and purple finches also come to that altitude although I haven't seen them in that spot. So... I'm asking the experts - purple finch or Cassin's finch? The experts at inaturalist say "Pale male Cassin's", even the bird is lacking the usual bright red Cassin's "cap", but I'm still not sure.
Pine siskin on the right for scale.
Virginia Lakes Resort, Mono County, Ca. August, 2020.