When I caught a glimpse of the body of this bird at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week, I initially thought it was some kind of sparrow. However, even though I was shooting into the light, I could see that its head was read. What could it possibly be?
Some experts in a Facebook birding forum informed me that it is an immature male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). According to Wikipedia, this species was originally only a resident of Mexico and the southestern United States. It was introduced to eastern North America in the 1940s when the birds were sold illegally in New York City as “Hollywood Finches.” To avoid prosecution under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, vendors and owners released the birds into the wild and they have since become naturalized in largely unforested land across the eastern U.S.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
They also show up by the dozens at my feeders. They’re a nice, vocal bird; their songs are as pleasant as any I hear.
Thanks for the additional info. I think this is only the second one that I have seen, though there is a chance that I have seen others and not recognized what they were.
These “ordinary” birds are plentiful and full of chirps🥰
Interesting!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
I retesting information about their origin!
I hadn’t heard of the history of their origin before. They are fairly common in the Northeast (now I know why). A few years ago an eye disease epidemic swept through their population, spread mainly at feeders and many died after becoming blinded. Their numbers have yet to rebound to earlier levels. It makes sense that being not native and adapted to this environment, they didn’t have the immunity that the other birds had who weren’t affected as much.
Thanks for explaining that! I never dreamed house finches were “invasives”!
Most people know that starlings and house sparrows are “invasives,” but somehow house finches, which are also invasives here in the east, seem to be more welcomed.
Yes they are at our feeders daily. Did not know I should speak Spanish to them. LOL. Learn something new every day!!
🙂