Cassin's finch

^A female and male.

I know Cassin's finches are around Oasis Valley first when I hear their peculiar calls, which to me sounds like "sillit" or "psilit". House finches have more musical "chewip" or "vweet" calls. They appear in our area in spring, and even more in fall, sometimes seeming to replace the summer population of House finches at my feeders, although they are never as common.

Csssin's finches are common breeders in most of Nevada's higher mountain ranges in conifer forests. They nest in the nearby Grapevine Mountains in pinyon-juniper as well, 20 to 30 miles west of our valley.

^Female.

^A female Cassins' finch sits on a treetop with a group of Pine siskins and American goldfinches.

^A flying Cassin's finch in the sunlight.

^A female, showing the stronger streaks on breast and head than on similar House finches.

^A female preening.

^A male showing the rosy head color.

^Male.

^Female and male Cassins' finch on a dead elm branch.

^A dark-streaked female in an October elm.

^Female.

^Female Cassins' finch showing the notched tail, which House finches have much less strongly.

 

HOME..........Oasis Valley Birds..........Oasis Valley Bird List