How to Tell a Purple Finch and House Finch Apart

I cannot believe that is has been over 2 months since I posted. Where has the time gone? Now that spring migration is upon us, I hope to post a little more often and I hope to get some good photos to share with all of you.

This past winter I was lucky and had both Purple Finches and House Finches regularly visiting my feeders. I quickly realized that it can be very hard to tell Purple Finches and House Finches apart. I don't feel so bad, because even expert birders can have a difficult time.  

If you are unsure which bird you are seeing, the first thing you will want to do it check a map. House finches are very common across North America, while Purple Finches are less common and are only seen during migration and non-breeding times of the year.

Male House Finch Feeding Female House Finch

One of my favorite resources for identifying birds is the Merlin Bird ID app. It allows you to enter the date, area, size and main colors of the bird. In turn, it will give you a list of birds that can be seen in the area that matches the description. It also has bird sounds and maps which come in really handy.

The purple finch and the house finch can be identified by their physical characteristics.  These doppelgangers might look a lot alike, but if you have a keen eye and a good set of birding binoculars you can do it.

I have read many articles and blog posts to learn how to tell the difference between the House Finch and Purple Finch, and all of the information can get overwhelming and confusing. There is so much unnecessary information to read through just to find out basic information.

To make things easier for you I have put together some pictures with tags so that you can tell these beautiful birds apart.

How to know if the bird is a Purple Finch or House Finch.  

Male House Finch	Male Purple Finch
Female House Finch	Female Purple Finch

If you are a nature lover please take a moment and check out my Wilfreda Designs Store located on Zazzle. Click HERE to be taken directly to my storefront. 

My First Hermit Thrush and My Big Year

My First Hermit Thrush

Here in Ohio, the weather has been absolutely crazy. One day we will have several inches of snow and the next it is 68 degrees. It has been such a strange year, but I have been lucky and have had a few birds show up at my feeders that I rarely see.

My Little Visitor

On February 1^st, it was one of our snowy days. There was a constant stream of birds at the feeder. I bundled up and headed outside to try to get a couple good shots. I was hiding next to the steps that come down off of our deck. I snapped picture after picture and was able to get some good pictures, but the cold was really starting to get to me. I told myself to hang in there for just a few more minutes and that’s when the Hermit Thrush showed up. I was so happy I waited.

When it landed in the bush next to the platform feeder, I think it startled both of us. It looked at me and I stared at it. I had no idea what it was. I finally got my head out of the sand and snapped off a couple of pictures. They weren’t the greatest, but I was happy to get them.

At first, I thought that it had to be a wood thrush or maybe a brown thrasher, but neither of them winters in this area. Hmmm….what could it be? I pulled out my trusty Merlin Bird ID app. and there it was the Hermit Thrush. It says that it is uncommon in this area. I don’t know how accurate that is, but I know I haven’t seen one before and I haven’t seen one since.

My Personal Big Year

I decided that I was going to do a personal big year. Every year I begin to write down all of the species I see and keep track of their comings and goings. But, I usually give up before January is even over. This year I have kept track every single day. I purchased A Big Year spiral notebook and I keep it close to my back door. This helps me to keep it up to date. I’ve managed to see 37 different species so far, and that’s not bad since most of them have been at my house. During these cold weird winter months, I don’t like to get out much. The weather is just depressing.

So far I have seen:

1. American Crow
2. American Goldfinch
3. Bald Eagle
4. Black-Capped Chickadee
5. Blue Jay
6. Brown Creeper
7. Canada Goose
8. Carolina Chickadee
9. Carolina Wren
10. Chipping Sparrow
11. Dark-Eyed Junco
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. Eastern Bluebird
14. Eastern Towhee
15. European Starling
16. Golden -Crowned Kinglet
17. Hairy Woodpecker
18. Hermit Thrush
19. House Finch
20. House Sparrow
21. Mallard Duck
22. Mourning Dove
23. Mute Swan
24. Northern Cardinal
25. Northern Flicker
26. Pileated Woodpecker
27. Purple Finch
28. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
29. Red-Tailed Hawk
30. Ring-Billed Gull
31. Rock Pigeon
32. Song Sparrow
33. Tufted Titmouse
34. White-Breasted Nuthatch
35. White-Throated Sparrow
36. Wild Turkey
37. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

The ohiobirds.org checklist reports there are 434 total species to be seen in Ohio. So, I have quite a few more to see. After having a couple 60+ degree days outside I am already having spring fever set in. I know it will be here before we know it, but that still isn’t soon enough. Here shortly though, in just a few weeks, the waterfowl will start returning. That will give me something to look forward too, and some more checkmarks on my Ohio Birding list.

Dark-Eyed Junco the Snow Bird

Dark Eyed Junco aka "Snow Bird"

One of Ohio’s cold weather residents is the Dark-eyed Junco bird. This little gray and white sparrow should be showing up any day now, if you haven’t seen one already. They usually make their way south to Ohio sometime around the middle of October. Once they show up you know that winter is definitely close.

During the summer Dark-Eyed Juncos raise their families in Canada then head south during the winter. During the cold months, they prefer to stay in a flock. So, when you see one you can bet there are several more around. If you don’t see any take a closer look because they are there. Their color pattern helps them to camouflage into the shadows on the ground.

Dark-Eyed Juncos prefer insects during the summer months, but during the winter they eat seeds. I’ve seen them on my platform style bird feeders, but they seem to prefer an open platform bird feeder. They can usually be seen scavenging on the ground near the woods edge or under the feeders where seeds have fallen to the ground. When I notice that the birds have made their way to my yard during winter migration, I always throw a little seed on the ground just to keep them happy and coming back.

These cute little birds have the nickname of “Snowbird”. They received this name due to the fact that their gray backs resemble the drab winter sky and their white breasts resemble the snow on the ground. The males and the females will look just a slight bit different. The males will usually have a darker gray back than the females.

These birds will puff up their feathers to keep warm. In doing so they can appear round.

In 2001, a Dark-Eyed Junco was captured for banding operations. After it was captured they figured out that it was already banded in 1991. So, at that point in time, this little bird was at least 11 years and 4 months in age. This is the oldest recorded Dark-Eyed Junco on record.

Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar

The Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar

This is a pretty interesting little green caterpillar. The Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar is one of the many Ohio caterpillars that I find every year. I usually only find one or two, so they aren’t as abundant as some of the other caterpillars like the Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar or the Woolly Bear Caterpillar.

The Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillars are hard to spot due to the fact that they camouflage very well into all types of vegetation. The last one that I found was on a piece of overgrown grass that had gone to seed. It was on the seeds and almost impossible to spot.

These caterpillars vary in color from a light brown to a light green. The V shape pattern on their back helps them blend in.

The Hitched Arches Moth Caterpillar feeds on many types of plants including goldenrod, honeysuckle, alder, clover, alfalfa, dandelion, birch, willow, trefoil, dandelion, clover and asparagus. They can usually be found along woodland areas near a clearing. 

Laurel Sphinx Caterpillar

Now, this is a hog of a caterpillar and a beauty at that. I found this searching a section of my yard that I don’t usually look in while I’m doing my caterpillar hunting. Yes, I am a caterpillar hunter. Hahaha! Looking for Ohio Caterpillars is a crazy obsession. I had to walk through a rather large flower bed that butts up against the woods. I have no idea why I went in that area, but for some odd reason, I walked right to this large caterpillar. The brilliant bright green color drew me in. I hadn’t ever seen one like this before and I thought that it was along the lines of a tobacco hornworm or a tomato hornworm, but after a little research, I learned that it is a Laurel Sphinx Caterpillar.

This huge caterpillar was wreaking havoc on the bush that it was eating. I was able to keep track of it for a few days but lost track after we had a very bad storm. Due to his size and the fact that his horn had turned blue, I figure it formed its chrysalis and prepared itself for winter. At least that is what I’m telling myself. I would hate to think that a bird had it for dinner.

Laurel Sphinx Caterpillars grow rapidly and molt their skin. They have 5 instars. They are a bright green color and have an almost translucent look to them. There are diagonal stripes on their sides that are black, white and yellow. There are orange spiracle dots under each stripe. The head also has a black and white stripe on each side. Its true legs are black and white and their prolegs are black and green. Its anal prolegs and anal plate have black bumps. The horn of the caterpillar is not poisonous and changes color as it ages. The last instar has a blue horn with black bumps. The moth of this species is quite large and has a wingspan that can reach anywhere from almost 3” to over 4”. The hindwings are tan in color with a black border. The forewings are more of a yellowish brown color with a white border.

The name "Sphinx" is believed to have come from the defensive position that this type of caterpillar takes when it is startled. It will rise up the front part of its body and in a weird way resemble the Egyptian Sphinx. The tobacco hornworm and the tobacco hornworm take this defensive posture.

Metallic Green Sweat Bee

Metallic Green Sweat Bee

Sweat bees are small and can range from 1/8” to ½” in size.  These bees are not usually aggressive and only sting when they are handled. Many of these bees are attracted to the salt in human perspiration, hence the name “sweat bee.”

Sweat bee is the common name used for a large group of bees. There is estimated to be about 1000 different species of sweat bee in the United States, Central America and Canada alone. These bees are so similar in appearance that it is very hard to tell what type of species they are actually a part of. They vary in color from metallic green, gold to black. These types of bees are very common and can be found all over the world, except Australia where they are very uncommon. 

These bees are great pollinators and play a vital role in the ecosystem. They are often seen in large numbers flying about from one flower to the next in a field of wildflowers or some crops.  Females sweat bees are able to carry pollen on their back legs, while males cannot. This is due to the fact that females have dense hair on theirs.

Sweat bees are just like a lot of bees and they live in colonies. Each bee has its own specific role that it has to perform. Depending on the type of sweat bee they will either live underground or in wood. 

Don’t be afraid of sweat bees. They are not aggressive but they can be quite annoying on a nice hot summer day. Just remind yourself that these bees are just doing their job.  If it wasn’t for bees pollinating our food sources our world would be in a lot of trouble.

Ohio Bees Green Bees in Ohio Ohio Insects

Woolly Bear Caterpillar Winter Forecast

Woolly Bear Caterpillar Winter Forecast

As winter and the cold weather are rapidly approaching that means that “caterpillar season” is quickly coming to an end.  I wait all year long to hunt these little creatures and the season goes by so fast.  Right now the only caterpillars that I am finding are pretty much the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia Isabella) and the occasional Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar.   The Isabella tiger moth caterpillar is commonly referred to as the woolly bear, banded woolly bear or the woolly worm.

According to folklore, the woolly bear caterpillar can predict the severity of the coming winter.  The more black bands that the critter has the harsher the winter conditions will be.  So, unless you love cold snowy long winters when you see an Isabella tiger moth caterpillar you want the brown band to take up the biggest part of its body. 

The typical woolly bear caterpillar has 13 segments.  It is believed that each one of these segments represents a week of winter.  The brown segments represent a mild week and the black segments represent a bad week.  You can also look to the thickness of the hair on the caterpillar.  If it is dense the winter will be colder, but if it is space the winter will be mild.  Another prediction depends on which end of the woolly worm caterpillar has the most black stripes.  If the head area has more, then the beginning of winter will be the harshest.  If the rear area has more, the end end of winter will be the worst.

Woolly bears are so popular here in Ohio that the residents of Vermillion have been holding an annual “Wooly Bear Festival” since 1973.  This festival only lasts one day, but it includes a winter forecast, parade and even woolly bear races. 

How accurate are the woolly bears weather predictions?   Not very accurate at all.  Scientists have performed studies and have found out that the caterpillars’ bands are affected by other factors such as the species, food source, natural conditions and age. 

So, if you want to believe in the folklore or not is up to you.  It doesn’t hurt to check out the caterpillars and see what they might be telling you.  Maybe they will be right.  This year the caterpillars that I have found all have a large brown section so, here’s hoping to a mild winter. 

The caterpillar pictured only has 13 segments, 7 are brown and 6 are black. There are 5 dark stripes on the front of the caterpillar and only 2 on the rear. So, according to folklore the beginning of this winter should be harsh and the end of it not so bad. 

The Golden Tortoise Beetle

The Golden Tortoise Beetle

I came across this crazy looking bug on the back of one of my Rose of Sharon leaves. It was rather small and I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, so I took a picture of it and zoomed in. To my amazement, this thing was partially transparent. After doing a little research I found out that this was an adult Golden Tortoise Beetle, also referred to as a “goldbug”.

The Golden Tortoise Beetle, Charidotella sexpunctata, can be found throughout North America. They can be recognized by their beautiful metallic golden color. They are able to change color during mating and when they are disturbed. 

The Question Mark Butterfly

The Question Mark Butterfly

Polygonia interrogationis

The Question Mark butterfly is a beautiful little creature and is quite common in Ohio during the summer months and is found throughout a large portion of the Eastern United States. These butterflies a red-orange color with black spots.  Depending on the season their hindwings are different colors.  During the summer months the hindwings are a dark brownish black color and in the fall they have the beautiful orange color that is edged in violet. When these butterflies close their wings they look like a dead brown leaf which is great camouflage for protecting them from predators.  

The Question Mark butterfly is native to Ohio and is found primarily in openings in wooded areas and is rarely seen in developed areas. Its flight periods occur in June, July, August, and September. They feed on rotten fruit, tree sap, animal dung and carrion.  When it is available they will also feed on the common milkweed, aster, and the sweet pepperbush. Males are also attracted to mud puddles.

These winged beauties get their name from a little marking on their hindwings that resembles a question mark.  This marking can be seen as they are perched with their wings closed. 

Question Mark butterflies are one of the longest living Ohio butterflies, along with the Comma and the Mourning Cloak.  All three of these butterflies are known to hibernate as adults during the winter.  They will find hollow logs and crevices to hide in.  This allows them to stay safe from predators the cold Ohio winter elements. Once they emerge in the spring, they can be up to 8 months in age.

During afternoon hours the males will sit and wait for females to fly by so they can mate.  They will fend off other butterflies, insects and even birds as they are waiting.  Females will then lay their eggs on the underside of leaves.  They might lay them individually or they might stack them.  Most butterflies will lay their eggs on a host plant, but not these butterflies.  Once the Question Mark Butterfly caterpillars hatch they will have to fend for themselves and find a host plant to feed on.  The host plants of the Question Mark larval stage include the American elm, red elm, hackberry, hops and nettle.

The larva of the Question Mark butterfly is a scary looking thing.  The head is a reddish-brown color and is covered in small spines and two larger spines. The body is black with white or yellowish spots and lines.  The whole body is covered in rows of branched spines, also known as scoli. The spines range in color from a reddish-orange to yellow to black.

Question Mark Butterfly Glass Paperweight

by WilfredaDesigns

Question Mark Butterfly Stone Coaster
by WilfredaDesigns

Question Mark Butterfly iPad Cover
by WilfredaDesigns