Cassin's Finch

Carpodacus cassinii

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Identification

Field notes

16 cm (6") Fairly common. Southwestern Canada, western United States. Upper mountain coniferous forests. In winter; lower levels.

Male: resembles male Purple Finch in being mostly red but it has a contrasting crown; brown hindneck contrasts abruptly with red on cap. Undertail coverts streaked.

Female: sparrow-like. Resembles female Purple Finch but it has whiter underparts with sharper streaking and streaked undertail coverts. Told from female House Finch by distinctive ear patch and eyebrow stripe.

Song: lively warbling is longer and more varied than Purple Finch; musical "chidiup" in flight.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Steve Ryan

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Finch Eats Thistle Seeds

Credit: PearyDog

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Cassin's Finch (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1034-cassins-finch-male:1:1 Source: 1034 Cassin's Finch (Male), row 1

Cassin's Finch (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 18 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the TAIL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Blue · Brown, brownish red, cinnamon · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sparrow-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:1035-cassins-finch-female:1:1 Source: 1035 Cassin's Finch (Female), row 1