bird 19

purple finch
carpodacus purpureus


i am so sorry mr. chipping sparrow.  this will be the fourth time i have cued you up for "bird of the day", only to have some other species swoop in and steal your spot.  promise - your time will come.

Roger Tory Peterson described a male purple finch as "a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice".  i remember that every time i see one.  this time it was a couple.  mr. and mrs. purple finch.  we enjoyed lunch together, they at the feeder and i on the porch.  

spring seems to be in full force here.  songs have more notes, plumage is more puffed, colors are more saturated.  it was good to see this purple finch couple.  they were definitely a pair. flew in together.  flew out together.  had choreographed moves at the feeder.  but, i chose this photo because mr. and mrs. finch didn't necessarily have to see eye to eye on everything.  even though they were newlyweds, they seemed like an old pairing.  it made me smile.  

thank you for returning mr. and mrs. purple finch.  in a species with a declining population like yours, it is always wonderful to see a healthy pair.  i will think of you two at the feeder, eating lunch side by side, seeing things in your own way, while knowing that your partner has your back.  as half of an old couple myself, it is good to be reminded that it doesn't get much better than that.