Male House Finches display extreme color variation, ranging from pale yellow to bright red. The depth of red coloring in each male depends on the amount of carotenoid pigments in the bird’s food sources during the molting period. Studies show that females prefer the brightest and reddest males; presumably the hue and intensity of color are indications of the male's fitness. (via Cornell Lab of Ornithology
We've had at least 3 house finch guests in the back yard this last week but one stands out. He's spent more time here than the others and it's his (happy) song that wakes me up most mornings. More than his song, though, is the beautiful golden orange color of his head band, chin, and throat that caught my attention. In the sunlight, it's the exact color of our california poppies.
I know the females are supposed to go for the redder males, but I find it hard to believe that they'd take to one of the drab, uninspired red guys when this glowing and regal, golden orange male steps into the sunlight and puts his song on for them.
Maybe I'll take some photographs tomorrow and post them here for you all to see.
Posted by asa at March 27, 2004 09:11 PM