House Finch?
 

I keep seeing a bird in my yard that (according to my Peterson's Field Guide) looks like a house finch. My bird book, however, doesn't show that this bird is in this area of Florida. I see this bird on my tropical red sage eating the seeds. Any birder's out there that have seen house finches in or near The Villages?

Perhaps its a Purple Finch??

Yes, it probably is a house finch. I have the little devils munching on my tropical red sage too. And, if they perch near the top of a stalk, they frequently manage to break it. Here's a link to a University of Florida publication about them:

WEC 253/UW298: Florida's Introduced Birds: House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

June

Thanks June -- your link was very informative, and I guess my book must be outdated!! These guys do live in FL