Purple Finch

Overview

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.

Range and 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.

INTERESTING FACTS

Purple Finch populations in the Eastern United States have declined dramatically due to competition with the House Finch.
It is the state bird of New Hampshire.
Males may hop as high as 12 inches in the air while puffing their chest and cocking their tails to attract a mate.
A group of finches has many collective nouns, including a "charm", "company", and "trembling" of finches.

The Purple Finch has a large range, estimated globally at 4,500,000 square kilometers. Native to North America, as well as Saint Pierre and Miquelon, this bird prefers Boreal or Temperate forest ecosystems as well as arable or pastureland, plantations, and even rural and urban areas. The global population of this bird is estimated at 3,000,000 individuals and does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Purple Finch is Least Concern.