| THE PURPLE FINCH Carpodacus purpureus |
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FACTS ABOUT THE PURPLE FINCH A plump, sparrow-sized (5 1/4" to 6 1/4") bird with a deeply notched tail and short conical beak, Purple Finches are named for the raspberry-red color of the males. The raspberry color is deepest on the head, nape, face, throat, breast, flanks, and rump. The hindneck, back, and scapular feathers are deep red streaked with brown. Wings and tail are brown and the belly and undertail coverts are white. Females are quite different, lacking any red color. The head is pale brown, with fine dark streaks, and a dark ear patch separating a broad white suprecilium and a white moustache stripe. The white moustache stripe is separated from the white of the throat by a brown malar stripe. Back and scapulars are brown and streaked; the rump, tail, and wings are also brown, but unstreaked. Throat, breast, and flanks are white with heavy brown streaks. The belly and undertail coverts are unstreaked white. First-summer males are similar to females but with head and rump washed in olive-yellow and deep yellow on chin and throat. Males in this plumage may sing and hold territory before molting into adult plumage in their second fall. They migrate only a short distance. Purple Finches are numerous during spring migration; pairs are territorial, the brightly colored male displaying in front of the female with his rich, spirited, warbling song. After the clutch is raised, they may be seen in large flocks visiting orchards, parks, and other woodlands. In winter they visit feeding stations in large numbers, showing a fondness for sunflower seeds. They breed in mostly woods, they build an open cup canopy nest. They usually hatch about 3 to 5 eggs. The incubation period is at least 13 days and fledge in about 14 days In the east they usually have one brood per year and in the west 2 broods per year. Their food is mostly Flowers, Fruit, and seeds. They do eat insects but they prefer the taste of flowers and fruit. I do most definitely agree with this one article that I read, "Ever who named the purple finch must have been just a little bit color blind", I cannot find any purple on him at all. Page by: Mary Alice Bowles |
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