Diane was at the FWG on Sunday and photographed the house finches hanging out near the feeder. She also reported that it has been pretty quiet for birds at the garden (and elsewhere). This photo shows the beautiful red colouration of the male. Sometimes exceptionally red males can be taken for purple finches, but male house finches have a brownish cap (not always that visible), which the purple finch males do not. As well, the purple finches are much deeper red.