Chirps and Cheeps

A little over a year ago, I saw my very first Purple Finches and House Finches. I was so excited. These beauties have become regular guests to our feeders and feasted often all last winter.  Their visitations had dropped to only sporadic stop-overs in recent months.  Well, the snow seems to have brought them back.  First, the House Finches, and now my favorites, the Purple Finches.

Sometimes, I have to look closely to be certain of which it is I'm looking at - and even then I'm not quite sure. Once I see a Purple Finch, though, it all comes back to me - ahhhh, yes, that is, without a doubt, a Purple Finch.  They really are quite striking; how could I forget?!

Anyway, I got a few photos the other day and thought I'd post them for anyone like me, who gets confused.  I got one with two males, a House Finch and a Purple Finch, both sitting on the same branch.  I'm sure I'll use this photo often for  reference!