The House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus is a very common bird throughout the United States and a very frequency visitor to bird feeders. While the female, right and left in photo 0761, is plain, the male is striking with its red front of head (2191), bib, and rump (0261). Despite being very common it is nevertheless a handsome bird especially the male when the sun shines on its red crown, neck and breast. There is also a yellowish variant (see photos 836, 674, 792 and 829).
The female is a dull brownish color with striped throat and breast.
Photos 0981 and 0982, taken in the Palm Dessert Reserve, show a yellow variant male and a female - either talking, kissing or feeding each other. The last Two of these were photographed in the back yard of friend in Albuquerque, NM. All the rest were photographed in our back yard.