Small numbers remain in eastern Washington in winter. Many finches have undulating flight patterns, and may give calls while in flight. Members of this diverse group make up more than half of the bird species worldwide. Calls include a high, warbled "krdlee". The male Cassin's Finch typically has a brown back and wings, with pinkish over-wash and white belly.
Gray-crowned rosy finch. Visits sunflower seed feeders, especially during winter. Small flocks twitter and forage in the tall evergreen forests and in groves of quaking aspen. Listen to the Cassin's Finch . Slightly less well known than its lookalikes (House Finch and Purple Finch), the Cassin’s Finch is the characteristic rosy-tinged finch of the mountains of western North America. Some of the Birds I love at Bear River National Wildlife RefugeWild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park – The SceneryWild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park – The BirdsWild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park – The WildlifeJourney to Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge – an Oasis in the West Desert of Utah They sing from perches, in flight, and even while mating.
Although Cassin's Finches are generally widespread in eastern Washington, their occurrence in any given location is highly variable from year to year. Cassin's Finches tend to be found at higher elevations than Purple Finches, but all three (Cassin's, Purple, and House Finch) can be seen in eastern Washington where agriculture, pine forests, and rivers all come together.
Evening grosbeak. Adult males have a brighter red crown and red washing down the heavily streaked back. Cassin's Finch: Medium-sized, cheery finch with bright red crown, brown-streaked back. House finch. It is sometimes found at very high elevations, in the scrubby forest just below treeline, especially in late summer. •Distraction display, agitated behaviour, or anxiety calls from adults. Their bills are conical and slightly longer than those of Purple Finches.
American goldfinch. The female Cassin's Finch has short, crisp streaks on her breast. However their brains are relatively large and their learning abilities are greater than those of most other birds. cassins_finch_female_3_wray -Photo by Simon Wray, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife .
The female may also exhibit a faint whitish eyebrow.
Call note, a high "pwee-de-lip", is diagnostic. Lesser goldfinch. Males sing to attract females in the spring, but they don’t seem to defend territories through song. Many are nomadic, wandering in winter in search of abundant seeds. Male Cassin’s Finches often mimic the calls and songs of other birds species and add them to their own songs. Found in evergreen forests in the mountains up to about 10,000 feet elevation.
The peaked crown is brighter red than the rest of the body.
Most finch species flock outside the breeding season, and many form flocks during the breeding season as well. Small flocks twitter and forage in the tall evergreen forests and in groves of quaking aspen. Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) This finch of montane pine and aspen forests is a surprisingly talented mimic, often incorporating songs and calls of the Mountain Chickadee, American Robin, Western Tanager, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Townsend's Solitaire into its own song.
Cassin's Finch: Purple Finch has … Female and immature Cassin’s Finches are brown-and-white birds with crisp, dark streaks on the chest and underparts. Most Cassin's Finches leave Washington in winter, except when heavy Ponderosa pine seed crops provide enough food for them to stay. The breast streaks do not gather in a central spot as on many sparrows.