Purple Finch

The Purple Finch is found from Newfoundland to southern New Jersey, from British Columbia to Quebec, and from Minnesota and Baja California. It winters in Nova Scotia, British Columbia also as far south as Florida to the Gulf Coast and Texas.

In recent years there has been a noticeable decline in the Purple Finch. One possible cause that is being looked into is competition with the more aggressive House Finch. As this has not been directly connected or confirmed with the decline of the Purple Finch there may be other likely circumstances for the decline that are being looked into.

The male features are  raspberry red feathers or they may be a yellow to salmon pink covering its head, throat, breast and nape. Other features are brown and red streaks on its back and flanks, reddish brown cheek and red rump. The female features consists of dark brown crown and jaw line, white eye brow and lower cheek. Her underparts are heavily streaked with olive brown, under streaks and a white under tail.

Habitat for the Purple Finch are open coniferous, also they may be found in mixed forests. During the winter Purple Finch’s prefer coniferous, or mixed and deciduous forest along with shrubby open areas . They also may be seen in back yard feeder that are close to tree cover.

Purple Finches feed on vegetation with seeds, buds, berries, insects and also sun flowers seeds or plants with seeds.