The House Finch is among the most mundane birds, so ubiquitous and familiar across the US and Canada that it does not rate a glance from most bird enthusiasts. But males have carotenoid-based plumage coloration that varies markedly among individuals, making the House Finch a model species for studies of the function and evolution of colorful plumage. In more depth and detail than has been attempted for any species of bird, Hill takes the reader on tour of the hows and whys of ornamental plumage coloration. Hill begins by reviewing the history of the study of colorful plumage, which began in earnest with the debates of Darwin and Wallace but which was largely forgotten by the middle of the twentieth century. He then documents the extensive plumage variation among males both within and between populations of House Finches, explores the mechanisms behind plumage variation, and looks at the fitness consequences of condition-dependent ornament display for both males and females. He concludes with an examination of the processes by which carotenoid-based ornamental coloration may have evolved. Through it all, Hill provides a personal view of the triumphs and hardships of field biology in the suburbs.