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Description
The Male Purple Finch is a dull
red, which is brightest on the head and rump.
The male bird is more evenly red than
House Finches, but not as bright red. The
female bird and the young birds are heavily
striped, brown in color and appear to look
similar to a sparrow. Female Purple Finches are
more heavily strtiped and have a more distinct
facial pattern than female House Finches.
The State Bird
Of: New Hampshire
Size: 5.5 - 6” (14 -
15cm)
Voice: The song of the
Purple Finch is a lively warble and is slightly
louder than the song of western birds. The note
is a sharp “pik”, or “tek tek tek”.
Distribution &
Habitat
Purple Finches are found in
Canada, Pacific States, North Eastern United
States and in the winter, in Southern United
States. Their habitat is in coniferous forests
or mixed deciduous and coniferous woods,
shrublands, old fields, forest edges and also
found at feeders
in backyards.
Feeding Habits
The Purple Finch’s diet mainly consists of
seeds and insects although they also eat
berries and small fruits. They forage high in
trees for buds of trees, and also forage on the
ground. When stocking a feeder, we recommend
that you have lots of black-oil sunflower seeds
and millet. The Purple Finch is fond of these
and can consume lots of these seeds!
Breeding & Nesting
Habits
The Male Purple Finch will find items to build
the nest, but it is the female Purple Finch
that selects the nesting site and actually
builds the nest. The nest is made up of twigs,
grasses, and string which can be lined with
horsehair, animal fur and moss. The nest is
usually placed in the crotch of a conifer
tree.
The female will lay and incubate 3 to 6 eggs.
These eggs are light green-blue and have dark
marks on them. Once the female begins
incubation, which generally lasts 13 days, she
is fed regurgitated seeds by the male and
rarely leaves the nest. Once the eggs hatch,
the young will leave the nest about 14 days
after hatching.
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