House Finch

House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus

A species that is now found in the majority of North America year round, this songbird like many others has a distinct colorful male and a drab female. The red color of the male, similar to a flamingo, is actually due to pigmentation in the foods they eat. They had originally only been found in the western states, but for a number of decades a population has grown in the eastern states. This is apparently due to setting many free in New York due to a failed attempt to sell them as pets. These birds are often found in neighborhoods, singing a distinct song not unlike that of the Painted Bunting; however, at least for North Texas, one way to separate by sound is knowing the time of year and the location as the Painted Buntings are summer migrants and prefer the open fields to suburban neighborhoods.

One reason I love this particular photo is that it was taken during one of the very infrequent snow storms of North Texas.