Purple finch Carpodacus purpureus
Identification Tips:
- Length: 5.5 inches
- Large, conical bill
- Short, forked tail
- Distinctive call note often given in flight
Male:
- Purplish-red head, breast, back and rump
- Streaked back
- White undertail coverts
- Brown wings and tail
- Immature male resembles female
Female:
- Brown crown and cheek patch contrasting with pale supercilium and malar
streak
- Heavily streaked underparts
- Brown upperparts
Similar species:
The male Purple Finch is similar to the House Finch but lacks brown streaks
on the breast and belly, has a more purple head, shorter forked tail and
different call notes. Female House Finch lacks the distinctive face pattern of
the female Purple Finch. Cassin's Finch is very similar in all plumages but has
streaked undertail coverts and a larger bill. Male Cassin's has a brighter red
crown. Female Cassin's has finer streaking on the breast and a less noticeable
face pattern. Pine Siskin is similar to female but smaller and lacks face
pattern. Sparrows are slimmer with longer tails and different markings.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds
of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Life History Groupings
Migration Status:Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat:Woodland
Nest Location:Mid-story/canopy nesting
Nest Type:Open-cup
Clutch Size:3-5
Length of Incubation: 13 days
Days to Fledge:14
Number of Broods:1 in east, 2 in west
Diet:
Almost Exclusively:
Lesser Quantities of:
Author: Gregory Gough USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research
Center
Clutch size, length of incubation, days to fledge and number of
broods from: Ehrlich, P., Dobkin, D., and Wheye, D. (1988). The Birders
Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. New
York: Simon and Schuster Inc.
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