Here is a picture I snapped about 30 minutes ago of a Male and Female House Finch on the same feeder. The male is on the upper-right. He has a red head and back, not that noticeable in this photo (this photo shows it as more of a pinkish tinge). The females are plain and heavily streaked. Purple Finches occur in the same areas as House Finches and are ALMOST identical. The red is more extensive on the males with more of a purplish hue. The females have bold and much more distinctive eyelines. I have seen ONE Purple Finch in 18 years of birding, and that was a Female about 15 years ago.

HOUSE FINCHES (Male and Female)

wow nice picture thorny! I hope I can get out to get some sunflower seeds so I can attract those to my yard. they are very pretty! thanks for sharing the pic