Went to Kentucky, spent a long weekend with my daughter and her family at Cumberland Falls Park. A turkey hen crossed the road in front of our car, and we saw two poults following. My granddaughters were excited, they're city girls. I saw a warbler-type bird outside on the cabin's deck, but it...
I'm going to go with Purple finch. The best way to tell them apart is the breast.
Peterson described the Purple finch as a "sparrow dipped in raspberry juice", and I think I see that here.
Did you know that the House finch is not native? It was introduced to the US around 1940.
You can get an older edition in good condition cheaper. I bought my granddaughter the same edition that my mom bought me about 1990. My original copy was from the 1960s.
Here's one on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1750687582/eastern-birds-by-roger-tory-peterson
If you have a Peterson's Field Guide look at the pictures. You'll see little arrows pointing at markings to look for on a bird. The beak is a big help in identifying a bird, look at its shape, color, size. Does the breast have spots or streaks or is it unmarked? How long is the tai? Etc.
Not...
Type of feeder helps when trying to attract smaller birds, but also the type and quality of seed. Most mixes you can purchase have fillers like red millet, which most birds don't eat. I've had issues with grackles taking over my one "house" feeder, so I fill it with safflower seeds. The...
Phone camera photo, not very good, but you should be able to make out birds around the feeders. (Wednesday)
There's a Downy woodpecker on the peanut feeder on the right.
Yesterday we had a winter storm, mainly sleet and freezing rain. I've been inundated with birds I only see when we get wintry weather:
Juncos
White-throated sparrows
Goldfinch
Purple finches
Female Red-winged blackbirds
Bluejay
And my usual:
Cardinals
House finches
Myrtle warblers
Pine...
I have a variety of feeders to keep the bigger bullies from hogging all the seeds.
What I really enjoy is when the parents bring their newly fledged offspring to the feeders. At first the adults will grab seeds and feed them to the youngsters, but then let the fledglings figure out the rest.