This morning at the feeders my mental health sustaining birds were White-throated Sparrows. They come in two morphs (white-morph and tan morph) with a lot of individual variation. In general, older male white morphs have the brightest, most contrasting plumage and first-year female tan morphs have the least contrasting plumage. White-morphs have white eyebrow and central crown-stripe and more black in lateral crown-stripe. Tan morphs have have buffy eyebrow and central crown-stripe, more brown in lateral crown-stripe. All have white throat patch. Look for this at your feeders. Looking more deeply connects us to birds and provides wellness for us.
"Beloved by the public, bird enthusiasts, and researchers alike, finches are among our most familiar birds. Yet, they are deceptively complex, presenting some of North America’s most intricate avian life histories and identification challenges. Covering this diverse, multifaceted group in a single, accessible guide requires finesse and expertise. Enter Lillian Stokes and Matt Young.
For decades, Stokes and her husband Don have been trusted voices in birding, sharing their expertise through 35 Stokes Guides—selling more than 5 million copies—and a popular television series, reaching millions of homes. As an award-winning nature writer and photographer, Lillian has also managed an this active blog since 2006. Young, the founder of the Finch Research Network, is a leading authority on North American finches. Together, they have created The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, an authoritative and indispensable compendium that achieves the rare feat of offering something for everyone, making it a must-have for any naturalist’s library.
A handy comparison of easily confused red finches is one of the books many highlights.
As a reference guide, it is a breath of fresh air. Going beyond the expected identification tips, the book covers everything from fundamental basics (“What is a finch?”) to advanced topics such as the call types, food sources, and distributions of the birds that make up the confounding Red Crossbill complex, of which Young is an expert. As usual, the species profiles are the bulk of the content, and this comprehensive handbook provides detailed life history information for 18 breeding finches, nine vagrants, and 17 Hawaiian honeycreepers, covering vocalizations, breeding, diet, habitat, migration, conservation, and distribution.
One of the book's most notable features is its innovative approach to vocalizations, dividing them into ones given by males, females, and both, not just “calls” and “songs.” This distinction reflects recent scientific insights into oft-overlooked female bird songs, which is important for better understanding and conserving the birds we love. Additionally, the guide presents clear and concise range maps for species, subspecies, and even irruptions, using familiar color palettes and intuitive features like dashed lines and dots.
Beyond the species overviews, chapters covering feeding and attracting finches, movements, irruptions, and research and conservation efforts empower readers in meaningful ways with actionable tips and advice. This blend of practical information and thoroughness makes the guide a powerful resource that perfectly balances breadth and depth in a compact and engaging format.
Interspersed among these photos and species accounts are informative deep dives and detailed identification guides. Examples include a two-page spread on telling apart common red finches (Purple, House, and Cassin’s) and a four-page layout for distinguishing Common and Hoary Redpolls—still useful despite recent taxonomic changes. Tables, charts, and spectrograms enrich the guide, offering valuable insights into challenging species complexes like Red Crossbill, which is covered in an exhaustive 40-page breakdown.
Charts detailing cone crop preferences and timing for various crossbill types are just one of the features that make this the ultimate finch guide.
Perhaps Stokes and Young’s most significant achievement, however, is the dedicated section on endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers—descendants of rosefinches from Central Asia who, five to seven million years ago, found their way to Hawai’i and eventually evolved into more than 50 distinct species through adaptive radiation. Unfortunately, habitat loss, human activity, pests, and diseases like avian malaria reduced their numbers to just 16 species today, 11 of which are endangered, with several in fear of vanishing forever soon. At the time of writing this review, the ‘Akikiki is functionally extinct in the wild, with only 0-1 individuals likely remaining (per Young), highlighting the alarming rate at which we are losing this once diverse group of finches.
Historically, Hawai’i’s birds have seldom appeared in North American field or reference guides. This is because the region’s native avifauna shares closer affinities with birds from Asia and Oceania than mainland U.S. birds. However, since the American Birding Association included Hawai’i in their ABA Area in 2016, there has been a significant shift in the collective effort to showcase the remarkable species of Hawai’i and the severe conservation challenges they face in the world’s bird extinction capital. By including the honeycreepers, this book provides the most complete coverage of all U.S. and Canadian finches while raising awareness about the importance of protecting these threatened species.
If it seems from this review as though the The Stokes Guide to Finches does it all, that’s because it does. This is much more than a mere finch identification manual. A testament to these birds’ remarkable depth and diversity, the guide is just as much a vibrant exploration and celebration of finches both familiar and irregular. That it does all of this while balancing rigorous detail with accessibility makes it an exceptional and essential resource for anyone passionate about finches and dedicated to their conservation.
The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, by Lillian Stokes and Matt Young, 352 pages, $21.99. Available here.
The Winter Finch Forecast suggests there will be good movements of Purple Finches, Evening Grosbeaks and more this winter, read on
26th ANNUAL WINTER FINCH FORECAST 2024-2025
By Forecaster Tyler Hoar
GENERAL FORECAST
"This year, a widespread cone crop reaches from northern British Columbia to eastern Quebec and down the western mountains. While there is a widespread crop, some areas have significant holes caused by insect infestations (Spruce Budworm, Tent Caterpillar, etc.), drought and forest fires. For example, northwestern Ontario, west of Lake Superior, is one area with poor cone crops.
This year’s cone crop across the boreal forest is primarily driven by two significant finch food sources, White Spruce and Tamarack, with White Birch and Balsam Fir also contributing to this food source. Last year, the driver of the Red Crossbill invasion in the east was the bumper Eastern White Pine crop. This year, it appears this species is taking a year off from reproduction for the most part.
To quote one of our cone crop reporters, “Basically any plant with a berry produced this year.” Large areas of the boreal forest have an excellent berry crop for many species, including Mountain Ash, which were observed across several areas.
Areas south of the boreal forest are mostly a mosaic of poor to average crops. Areas of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota and the Adirondacks appear to have a more robust crop than the neighbouring areas.
As the season progresses, significant winter storms, and/or freezing rain events, may be needed to nudge some species out of the boreal forest this winter.
INDIVIDUAL FORECASTS
Forecasts apply mainly to Ontario and adjacent provinces and states. Three irruptive non‐finch passerines whose movements are often linked to finches are also discussed. Follow finch wanderings this fall and winter on eBird, the Finch Research Network, and the Finches, Irruptions and Mast Crops Facebook group for more information.
PINE GROSBEAK
Mark Peck
Most Pine Grosbeaks should remain in the boreal forest with some flight into their traditional wintering areas in western and southeastern Canada and northern New England states as wild food sources to the north are consumed. Areas around Lake Superior and particularly northern Minnesota, may see a larger movement as the weaker crop in northwestern Ontario is consumed. Roaming Pine Grosbeaks will search for fruiting ornamental trees and well-stocked feeders with black oil sunflower seeds.
PURPLE FINCH
Mark Peck
Most years, Purple Finches migrate south out of Canada. A visible movement is already moving south, as reported by Hawk Ridge Hawk Watch near Duluth, Minnesota, and central New York. This year, the majority should leave Canada with a likely moderate flight to the Great Plains and southern United States. Still, we anticipate small numbers will remain in southern Ontario eastward to the Maritime provinces.
At feeders, they prefer black oil sunflower seeds.
REDPOLL
Mark Peck
The boreal forest appears to have a widespread average birch crop this winter. Some areas not affected by tent caterpillars in northeastern Ontario and Quebec have heavy birch crops. Areas south of the boreal forest from Lake Huron eastward into New England appear to have scattered areas of good White and Yellow Birch crops surrounded by no seed. The alder crop across the boreal appears to be above average. Redpolls enjoy foraging in weedy fields, and if the snow does not cover these fields, this widespread food source, in addition to the tree seed crops, should hold most Redpolls north. Areas in the upper midwestern states and the Maritime provinces may see more Redpoll movement as southbound birds transit the holes in the boreal cone crop.
Watch for Redpolls on birches, in weedy fields, and at bird feeders that offer Nyjer® and black oil sunflower seeds.
In 2024 Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll and the Lesser Redpoll in Europe have all been lumped into the same species now called Redpoll. Genetic work found that a supergene was responsible for the Redpoll plumage differences.
See the link below for photos and identification marks of the Redpoll subspecies. They are still unique taxon and we continue to encourage everyone to keep looking at those redpolls! Also see links below for more about them being lumped.
PINE SISKIN
Matt Young
Many Pine Siskins will remain in the boreal and western mountains this winter. Areas from Manitoba eastward affected by Spruce Budworm infestations have a poor cone crop. Siskins that bred in these areas will be on the move. While band recoveries show siskins will move straight across North America from coast to coast, there should be some small movement south in the eastern half of the United States this fall in search of food.
At feeders, they prefer Nyjer® seeds and black oil sunflower in silo feeders.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL
Ryan Mandelbaum
With a good White Spruce crop across most of the boreal forest and good multi-species cone crops in the western mountains, most White-winged Crossbills should stay in the boreal. Some birds will drift out of this crop throughout the winter. In areas of poor cone crops, ornamental spruces in urban areas laden with cones will be used by crossbills.
Significant winter storms and freezing rain events can cause flocks of crossbills to move out quickly in search of accessible food. Watch for crossbills and other finches in neighbouring areas, primarily to the south, after these weather events.
RED CROSSBILL
Mark Peck
Most of last year’s invasion of western-type Red Crossbills (Type 2 and 4) appear to have returned west over the summer. Red Crossbills, primarily the Northeastern Type 12, are common in the Adirondacks and eastward into Nova Scotia, feeding on the Red Spruce crop. There are more modest numbers from Algonquin Provincial Park over to the upper Great Lakes states. Leftover Type 2 and 4 will likely be scattered in very small numbers across the area, with a few usual Type 1s around in small numbers as well.
The Red Crossbill types are usually impossible to identify without recordings of their flight calls. Recordings can be made with a smartphone and identified to type. Types can be identified by emailing Matt Young (info@finchnetwork.org) or uploading recordings to an eBird checklist. Recordings uploaded to eBird checklists are deposited in the Macaulay Library.
EVENING GROSBEAK
Mark Peck
There was a widespread and diverse berry crop across the eastern boreal forest in 2024. The berries provided the families of fledging Evening Grosbeaks with an ample food source to replace the Spruce Budworm caterpillars as they spun their cocoons and pupated into adults. By the end of August, many areas with ample berries were barren, having been consumed by the grosbeaks and other fruit-loving vertebrates.
Areas containing viable ash and maple seeds may also hold some flocks in the southern boreal and adjacent forests to the south into the early winter.
With a visible movement at Tadoussac in early August, there should be a moderate flight of Evening Grosbeaks southward this fall. Evening Grosbeaks should visit areas from the Maritime provinces south towards Pennsylvania. Areas even further south to the mid-Atlantic states may see grosbeaks this winter. With Spruce Budworm outbreaks becoming more widespread and scattered around Lake Superior, western Great Lake states may see even more movement this winter.
Evening Grosbeaks in northwestern Ontario westward should move out of the boreal forest, looking for feeders in towns or suitable food sources further south.
At platform feeders, Evening Grosbeaks prefer black oil sunflower seeds. Evening Grosbeaks will look away from feeders for maple and ash trees still holding seeds. See the link below for Evening Grosbeak call types.
THREE IRRUPTIVE PASSERINES
Movements of these three passerines are often linked to the boreal finches.
BLUE JAY
In eastern North America westward to Manitoba the deciduous tree crop (they love acorns on oaks) appears below average with scattered areas of average crops, so expect a moderate to strong flight this fall.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
The Balsam Fir crop is widespread in some areas with a great crop, and is completely absent in other areas across the boreal forest. As a result, we can expect a moderate flight of Red-breasted Nuthatch, with a few birds already being noted near the Gulf Coast.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
Most Bohemian Waxwings will likely stay in the north because native Mountain Ash berry crops and other berries are good across much of the boreal forest.
With the poorer crops in northwestern Ontario, northern midwestern states may see more widespread movements of Bohemian Waxwings.
Small numbers will probably arrive mid to late winter in traditional areas from central Ontario eastward into the Maritime Provinces, New England, and northern New York as winter progresses and food resources dwindle. If some move south, this species will forage on Buckthorn and planted European Mountain Ash berries and ornamental crab apples.
The forecast is put out by the The Finch Research Network (FiRN) which is a nonprofit, and was granted 501c3 status in 2020.We are a co-lead on the International Evening Grosbeak Road to Recovery Project, and have funded almost $13,000 to go towards research, conservation and education for finch projects in the last couple years. FiRN is committed to researching and protecting these birds like the Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Crossbills, Rosy-finches, and Hawaii’s finches the honeycreepers.
"BOOK NOTE: IT’S FINCH TIME! (Review from The Birding Community E-Bulletin) If you ever wanted a way to unravel the complexities of identifying and understanding better the world of North American finches – grosbeaks, rosy-finches, crossbills, goldfinches, and the other myriad finches – you now have a book that should seriously help you in your quest. It’s The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada (Little, Brown and Company, 2024) by Lillian Q. Stokes and Matthew A. Young.
The birds in the guide are smartly arranged into three groups: 18 main breeding finches, 9 vagrant finches, and the 17 endemic finches (honeycreepers) of Hawaii. But the book contains much more than the ID specifics – with revealing color photos for each species (including plumages, subspecies, and voice). The book also has excellent range maps, wonderful and brief information on the usual life-history for each species, summaries on up-to-date research, extensive details to help understand finch irruptions, conservation, research, attracting finches, and more. The formatting of the book is both creative and user-friendly. Yes, the book presents just about everything you wanted to know about finches, including things you might not even have considered!
Some of our favorite – and sometimes surprising - sections are the readable and often entertaining “Quick Takes,” that introduce each species (some highlights: Pine Grosbeak, the rosy-finches, House Finch, Common/Hoary redpoll, and the Red Crossbill complex). These sections are different, readable, and even entertaining to read.
Particularly noteworthy is the portion of the book on the unique Hawaiian honeycreepers. And do not miss the brief and creative section at the end of the book on Conservation and Research, replete with ongoing topics of interest with questions yet to be answered in the finch-world, and the challenges presented in a section on “How you can help.”
The timing of this book by Stokes and Young is perfect, ideal to guide us through the finches we encounter, pursue, and even attract this fall and winter. It’s also sure to become an essential resource to take us into the field and into the future."
You can sign up to get the E-Bulletin, a great publication, HERE
