I photographed this pair of House Finches few days ago in my own yard as they searched for a snack. The first two photos are of the female, the second two are of the male.

It’s easy to tell the differences between the two by their plumage.
Male House Finches have purplish red feathers on their faces, heads and necks while females are a colored in subdued buff tones with brown streaking on their breast’s and sides.

A familiar sight at backyard feeders here in North Carolina, the House Finch is one of the most well-established invasive species in the eastern United States. Originally native to only the western U.S. and Mexico, it has spread rapidly through the east since a small number of illegally caged birds were released by a pet store in New York in 1940.
House Finches prefer to dine on seeds, buds and fruit throughout the year. At our feeders, they prefer thistle, sunflower and safflower seeds.
Such a pretty sight on a winters day!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds