feral star finches seen in Kansas

[TedH71]

I was sitting on my front porch when I saw a couple of birds fly over to the cedar tree that is on my front yard. The male had a bright red head so I went over there to take a closer look and the female was being quiet while the male was inspecting the tree. I later googled the pictures...I promise you that the birds were star finches! I know Florida has feral parakeets but am pretty sure Kansas doesn't have feral finches that I'm aware of...anyone know anything about feral birds? I also remembered that Austin, TX has feral parrots...quaker parrots are the most commonly seen but I have seen a few macaws flying around....

[Paquebot]

Aso check out house finches if you've never seen them before. They've been working their way back home to the West for many years after having been released in New York City.

Martin

[TedH71]

Interesting. I could swear that's the bird I saw...ummm...all I can say is that I hope to see them again!

[sunflower-n-ks]

There are lots of finches here that have red heads. Not necessarily bright red, but red. They love to make nests in house plants that are hung on porches in the summer. Don't know if they are the same you saw.

There do seem to be more types of small birds here that I have not seen before though. Lots with orange and yellow. Sometimes all I see is a brief glimpse as they move through the trees. I do not encourage them to stay because of the cats.

Opps sorry, should have looked up the picture of the star finch before I opened the keyboard..... Not the same birds at all. Sorry. The star finch is a much prettier bird.

[Karenrbw]

They may be recent escapees. The star finch is from Australia and require supplemental heating at below 55 degrees, so they probably won't make it through the winter.

[mekasmom]

The little yellow finches have been passing through this area in their migration. I don't know their "scientific" name, but we all call them yellow finches.

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

The little yellow finches have been passing through this area in their migration. I don't know their "scientific" name, but we all call them yellow finches.

There's some little yellowish greenish finches here that look a LOT like wild canaries. I have no idea what they are, but they must not be canaries because they don't sing like canaries.

[muzzelloader]

There a number of small finch like birds that are rather shy and are not seen too often but are all over the country. Many of them are quite colorful . They are migritory and are not in the U.S. all year around. .

[scooter]

Originally Posted by mekasmom

The little yellow finches have been passing through this area in their migration. I don't know their "scientific" name, but we all call them yellow finches.

I think you are thinking of the gold finch, we get a lot of them here in MN, also a lot of house finches.

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by ladycat

There's some little yellowish greenish finches here that look a LOT like wild canaries. I have no idea what they are, but they must not be canaries because they don't sing like canaries.

Female goldfinches are yellowish green and don't usually sing. Singing is for the males. With the exception of goldfinches, the one color that most American finches share is red.

Martin

[ladycat]

Well, if they're females, why are there no males?

[ladycat]

Ok, I found pics of female goldfinches, there's one here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Goldfinch

That looks NOTHING like the little finchy-looking birds here. They are more green than yellow, and are stripy like wild canaries.

Also our area is supposed to be a winter only area for goldfinches, and the stripy ones are here in the summer. I've never seen them in the winter.

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by ladycat

Well, if they're females, why are there no males?

Originally Posted by ladycat

Ok, I found pics of female goldfinches, there's one here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Goldfinch

That looks NOTHING like the little finchy-looking birds here. They are more green than yellow, and are stripy like wild canaries.

Also our area is supposed to be a winter only area for goldfinches, and the stripy ones are here in the summer. I've never seen them in the winter.

If you read the wiki entry for goldfinches, you will note that they are one of few birds which go through more than one molt per year and drastic color differences between them. A number of male goldfinches showed up here last week but only a single female accompanied them. The only color that she could be called is gray-green. Her yellow breeding plummage will come in July or August. By then she will have been joined by other females after the males have staked out their territories.

Martin