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I've noticed a pair of birds hanging around the yard that I've never seen the likes of before, and I can't identify them. I tried a bird-identifying website, but that didn't get me anywhere.
Can anyone here identify them? The first image below shows both the male and female, but unfortunately they're kind of obscured by some flowers and stuff in the yard. The second image clearly shows the female. The third image shows the male, just beyond a morning dove (to provide a size comparison). I'm guessing they're some type of sparrow, because they show a lot of the characteristics of sparrows, and they are about the size of a small sparrow. But that guess might be as wild as the wind, because so far I haven't been able to find any clues on the internet.
The male also appears to have a red patch on his rump, but it's covered by his wings in the photos.
Click on the thumbnail images below to see enlargements.
Thanks,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Looks like a finch to me - could be either a purple or house finch. House finches are very common in the mid-Atlantic region. Whaddya think? Maybe Maggie, our resident bird expert, will chime in.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
The missing white stripe on the side of the female's head rules out the purple finch, I believe, but they might be house finches. The reason I'm not sure is because of the beak angle. The top line of the beaks on these birds is almost a straight extension off the top of the head (like a cowbird), whereas I thought that finches finches usually have a slightly more stubby beak with a "notch" arrangement at the base.
Here's a cowbird, as an example:
Anyway, if these are house finches, they're the first I've seen, but according to the historical distribution maps, they've been expanding their range eastward into Texas for the past 20 or 30 years, so that matches.
See what I mean about the beaks? Maybe that part of their design specs is not chiseled in stone, though. LOL. Thanks.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Apparently they're not rare — I just haven't noticed them around here before, probably because I haven't been looking for them. So you're right — if I were a GI doc, I would probably say they were rare.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Well, I would definitely defer to Maggie, but have you tried a bird identification app called Merlin? I believe it's through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We have successfully used it a few times.
Well, regarding the bird, he would probably call it an "Ibis".
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I'll check it out. I had to abandon the other one that I tried for Texas birds (on a desktop computer), because it somehow gummed up my browser and and caused everything on the computer to drag at a snail's pace. I thought I had picked up some malware for sure, but a Super AntiSpyware scan didn't find anything, so I rebooted the computer and finally got rid of the problem.
I see that this one is a smartphone ap. I'll download it and try it later.
Thanks,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Yes, I agree it has to be a house finch. After Polly made the id, everything I looked up online about it seems to match.
I was able to get some better photos yesterday.
You can click on the image to see an enlargement. Thank you for your response.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The most common finch is the House finch and it occurs over most of Texas. Cassin's finch is found in West Texas but the male Cassin's doesn't have belly streaks. I think it's a House finch. When I lived up North I had both House and Purple finches at the feeder. It was interesting to compare them side by side.
You took excellent pictures, Tex.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
We have house finches nesting in our porch eaves. Can't get rid if them. They seem to nest in the same place year after year. Stubborn little devils. LOL
Apparently they're not rare — I just haven't noticed them around here before, probably because I haven't been looking for them. So you're right — if I were a GI doc, I would probably say they were rare. 
