This is a male. Members of the western population have more brownish color on their sides and flanks than eastern birds and are thus somewhat more similar to House Finch. It takes males two years before they acquire a red plumage. Birds in female-like plumage are often seen singing, but these are all actually adult males.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter).