carpodacus (from karpos, fruit, and dakos, biter) mexicanus (Mexican)
Friday, March 30, 1984 — 5:20 pm
Tempe, Arizona — office park near the airport
I was walking back toward our hotel after seeing the Great-tailed Grackles. The road passed an empty, weed-filled lot. I spotted the House Finch as it flew to a fence along the edge of the lot. I watched it for a few minutes until it flew to the top of a weed stalk then off out of sight. This particular male was bright red on the face, rump and chest. I saw some later that were a lot more orange. It had a brown cap and brown streaking over much of its body. It was about the size of a House Sparrow.