Purple Finch Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  Among the small forest birds like chickadees, kinglets, and nuthatches, Purple Finches are large and chunky. Their powerful, conical beaks are larger than any sparrow’s. The tail seems short and is clearly notched at the tip.

  Relative Size

  About the same size as House Finch and House Sparrow

  sparrow-sized or smaller

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 4.7-6.3 in (12-16 cm)
    • Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-32 g)
    • Wingspan: 8.7-10.2 in (22-26 cm)

  © Jeff Bleam / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Male Purple Finches are delicate pink-red on the head and breast, mixing with brown on the back and cloudy white on the belly. Female Purple Finches have no red. They are coarsely streaked below, with strong facial markings including a whitish eyestripe and a dark line down the side of the throat.

• Behavior

  Purple Finches readily come to feeders for black oil sunflower seeds. You’ll also see them in forests, where they can be noisy but hard to see as they forage high in trees. In winter they may descend to eat seeds from plants and stalks in weedy fields. Their flight is undulating.
• Habitat

  Purple Finches breed mainly in coniferous forests or mixed deciduous and coniferous woods. During winter you can find them in a wider variety of habitats, including shrublands, old fields, forest edges, and backyards.

Regional Differences

Purple Finches from the Pacific Coast are duller and sing a faster song than Eastern birds.

Regional Photos

© Wendy Hogan / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 22, 2016

© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, June 14, 2017