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Purple Finch

Carpodacus purpureusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)
Purple Finch Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Cone
  • Eye Color: Dark brown.
  • Head Pattern: Eyeline, Streaked, Malar or malar stripe
  • Crown Color: Red-brown with brown streaks.
  • Forehead Color: Red-brown
  • Nape Color: Red-brown with brown streaks.
  • Throat Color: Red-brown
  • Cere color: No Data
Purple Finch Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 14-16 cm (5.5-6.25 in)
  • Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: Red, White, Brown
  • Underparts: White with red-brown breast.
  • Upperparts: Red-brown with brown streaks.
  • Back Pattern: Striped or streaked
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Purple Finch Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift bounding flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 23-27 cm (9.25-10.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Dark Brown
  • Under Tail: Dark Brown
  • Leg Color: Black
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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Carpodacus purpureus
Length5.5 - 6.25 Inches
Wingspan9.875 Inches

Purple Finch

Purple Finch: Medium finch, rose-red body, brown streaks on nape, back. Sides, flanks, belly are dull white with red wash; sides show thick, faint streaks. Brown wings, notched tail. Eats seeds, fruits, insects and caterpillars. Swift flight, alternates rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

● Song: "tick"

● Foraging & Feeding: Purple Finch: Diet consists mostly of seeds, buds, blossoms, and fruits, usually taken from outer branches of trees and occasionally from the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Purple Finch: Three to five light green blue eggs, marked with black and brown, are laid in a well-made cup of grass and twigs, often lined with hair, and built in a conifer. Eggs are incubated for 13 days by the female.

● Similar species: Purple Finch: House Finch has brown streaks on breast and belly, less red on head, longer tail, and different call. Cassin's Finch has streaked undertail coverts, larger bill, and weakly notched tail.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight with rapid wing beats.
Purple Finch Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Purple Finch: Breeds from British Columbia east to Newfoundland, southward in the western mountains to California and from eastern Minnesota east to West Virginia. Spends winters south to the U.S.-Mexico border. Preferred habitats include mixed and coniferous woodlands and ornamental conifers located in gardens.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight1.2 Ounces