Evening star., 1946-01-07
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdcetDell.

ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
Although suburban apartment dwell
lers, this family is numbered among
those enjoying your column to the
fullest. as we'll as being ardent bird
feeders and admirers, via the window
sill method of feeding.
I'VE pride ourselves on being able
to recognize our numerous feathered
friends, and when puzzled correspond
ent comes to you with new bird to
identify we engage in the innocent
sport of attempting to classify the bird
before going on to read your always
enlightening remarks.
"Out OF the recent snow storm there
has come to our window a new and
beautiful friend which we are unable
by means of our inadequate library to
identify
The first impression this bird gives
is that the beholder is viewing spar
row through rose colored glasses al
though he may be slightly larger than
a sparrow.
His wing markings greatly resemble
the sparrow but his entire body appears
to be beautiful purplish rose or mag
meta shade, and when viewed in the
sunshine he seems to radiate a rosy
glow.
HE has slight crest, also rosy, and
seems to prefer the sunhower seeds to
any of the smaller seeds or grains. So
far he shows no fear of those who dwell
on the inside of the window pane, and
sits contentedly on the sill while MUNICH
ing his seeds in similar manner to the
cardinal, although he Is much less nerv-
Gus than our winter cardinal visitors.
I'VE should be very happy to know
who our new found rosy friend may be.
VERY sincerely yours. P. P. MEG"
4
This rosy friend is one of the best,
the purple finch.
The rosy glow he radiates makes him
one of the most striking birds in winter.
kfew of these finches, TO which group
all sparrows belong, remain here all
winter.
1t is a red letter day, indeed. in the
home garden when one of them shows
up, especially when snow is on the
ground.
At any time he is a gem.
The glow of the feathers Is really
there. No imagination is required.
The color descriptive purple" is used
in the old Latin sense of rosy dawn"
This prime sparrow is 6k inches long.
The male is pinkish-purple and brown;
the female, olive-gray above and white
below, quite streaked both above and
below
Wine purple is the color, as described
In the books, but most persons will call
it rosy and let it 60 at that.
The feathers on the head can be
raised, and often are, but they do not
constitute true crest, such as the male
cardinal sports.
The generic name of this bird, Car
podacus, means fruit-biting. This is a
habit held against the species in fruit
growing neighborhoods. Peaches and
cherries are favorites.
Ragweed Is another favorite food of
theirs, and this must be held greatly to
their credit
In spring the male sings a famous
warble often rising to a height Of 500
feet, singing all the time, then coming
back in circles to the tree from which
he started.
He Is q great one to dance around
the female, wings and tail spread, while
he sings softly to her.
These songs will be heard only In
spring, of course.
Occasionally in fall and winter he
utters sharp pip" mostly while on
the wing. Now and then he may call
"chip Chez" while feeding.
It is said that the female also sings,
but not as well as her mate. The
immature males, which resemble the
females, sing very nicely, 1t is sing
ing family.
The observer will have to be very
observing, indeed, to spot the female
| purple finches.. But no one can miss
seeing the males. They are among the
| glories of birdland and the first sight
of them always leads to amazement
| and delight, The delight, at least, Is
never failing, thereafter.