Species BirdsPurple Finch

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

CommonBird
Illustration of Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)

The Purple Finch is not actually purple but raspberry-red on the male — Roger Tory Peterson memorably described it as 'a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice.' It is notoriously confused with the House Finch at feeders; the Purple Finch is larger, with a more notched tail, and the male lacks streaking on the belly. It has a rich, continuous warbling song.

Habitat
Mixed and coniferous forests and forest edges
Diet
Seeds, berries, and buds; sunflower seeds at feeders
How common
Common

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