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Bird Identification

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Purple Finch

Carpodacus purpureus L 6" (15cm)


hear the song/call of the purple finch

Photo by Maslowski Wildlife Productions.

Found in both coniferous and mixed woodlands in all seasons, the purple finch is an irregular winter visitor to feeders, fairly common in some years and absent in others.

The male is distinctive, with wine red head, chest, and sides, lacking the brown streaks on the belly so evident in male house finches. The male can be distinguished from the female house finch by the strong white line above the eye and the bold dark streaks contrasting with the white belly and chest.

The song of the purple finch is a series of whistled, warbling notes. The song of eastern birds, which is slightly more hoarse and louder than the song of western birds, usually ends with a descending reer note. The common call note, mostly heard from flying birds, is a sharp, hard pik.

Bird song courtesy of Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio.

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