The common and familiar finch in most areas. Found just about anywhere, suburbs, feeders, wooded and scrubby areas. Conjunctivitis, most easily seen as swelling around the eyes, drastically reduced numbers but populations now recovering. Often in small groups feeding on seed heads on the ground or in tangled vegetation. Often easiest to see flying overhead. Call a ‘qwee-er.’ Song: 3 loud warbled phrases, fastest at the start. ID: Much slimmer and longer-tailed (square-ended) than other Carpodacus finches, and lacks strong contrast of other species. Edges to bill are noticeably curved. Plumages show a lot of variation but all have extensive blurry streaking on flanks and diffusely marked upperparts. Ad ♂: red (not pink) usually restricted to head, breast, and rump. Red occasionally shows as yellow or orange where diet is atypical. Ad ♀: relatively dull and nondescript; underparts diffusely streaked on white or buff. Weak face pattern. 1st-yr: similar. The commonest ‘unknown’ feeder bird!