Purple Finch

Adult males feature a deep rosy-red head, breast, and back, often described as looking like they were 'dipped in raspberry juice,' with brownish wings and back streaking. Females and immatures lack the red and instead display strong brown-and-white facial patterns with a heavy, dark brown streakiness underneath.

Conical bill, rosy-red plumage (in males), prominent whitish eyebrow stripe contrasting with a dark cheek patch, and notched tail.

Length: 4.7–6.3 in (12–16 cm), Wingspan: 8.7–9.8 in (22–25 cm), Weight: 0.6–1.1 oz (18–32 g)

Call is a distinct, metallic 'pik' note. The song is a rich, energetic, musical warbled series of notes lasting several seconds.

Primarily feeds on seeds, buds, berries, and occasionally insects during the breeding season. Forages in trees, shrubs, and on the ground.

Prefers moist coniferous and mixed forests, open woodlands, as well as suburban areas, parks, and orchards during migration.

Partial migrant. Northern populations migrate south for the winter, while western populations often make altitudinal migrations.

Builds a cup nest of twigs, rootlets, and grasses lined with fine hair or moss, typically placed high in a conifer tree. Clutch size is usually 2 to 7 pale blue-green eggs speckled with brown.

House Finch and Cassin's Finch. Purple Finches are distinguished from House Finches by their brighter raspberry-red color extending onto the back, less sharply defined streaking on the flanks, and broader pale eyebrow.

Acts as an important seed disperser and predator of weed seeds and tree buds within its woodland and forest ecosystems.

IUCN Least Concern, though populations have experienced some long-term declines due to habitat loss and competition with the invasive House Finch.

Visit mixed deciduous-coniferous forests during breeding season, or set up nyjer seed and black-oil sunflower seed feeders in winter. Listen for their warbling song.

Roger Tory Peterson famously described the male Purple Finch as a 'sparrow dipped in raspberry juice.' Despite their name, they have very little actual purple feathers.