The Purple Finch is the state bird of New Hampshire, and inhabits coniferous and mixed forests, as well as parks. It breeds in the northeastern United States, across southern Canada, and western Sierra Nevada ranges of the West Coast. Males sing from song posts at the very tops of conifer trees.
A plump, sparrow-sized bird with a deeply notched tail and short conical beak, Purple Finches are named for the reddish-purple color of the males.
The reddish color is strongest on the head, breast, flanks, and rump. The hindneck, back and wings are deep red streaked with brown. Wings and tail are brown and the belly and undertail coverts are white.
Females lack 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. Back is brown and streaked; the rump, tail, and wings are also brown, but unstreaked. Throat, breast, and flanks are white with heavy brown streaks. Young males are similar to females but with head and rump washed in yellow. Males in this plumage may sing and hold territory before molting into adult plumage in their second fall.
The red color of the male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is limited to the forehead, throat, and rump, and it has bold brown streaking on the lower breast, flanks, and belly. Female House Finches lack the strong facial pattern of the Purple Finch and are more faintly streaked.
Photo © Roy Harvey
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