Is that a Purple Finch?

House Finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) come to my backyard feeders often, especially to the one filled with black-oil sunflower seeds. These social birds are easy to recognize even during the winter, as they congregate in groups around the feeder. The males in particular stand out with reddish plumage on their heads, chins and bellies.

Their large, chunky beaks, designed to crush seeds quickly, set them apart from other songbirds that visit the feeders.

In contrast to the male, the female House Finch lacks the bright red coloration. Covered with blurry streaks, she blends well with her natural surroundings…

Recently, I noticed a feeding male that looked unusually red during the winter months. House Finches that are year-round residents here don’t normally turn bright red until it’s spring. Could this be a different species of finch?

To my delight, I recognized this visitor as a close relative of the House Finch, the more elusive Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus). The difference in appearance between the two species, although subtle, is unmistakable.

See the differences? The male Purple Finch is more of a wine-red color when compared with the House Finch. Red plumage covers his entire face, while his belly is whiter and less streaked. Also note how his back is reddish too …

The female Purple Finch looks like an entirely different bird from the male. When seen alone, her streaky brown and white plumage make her challenging to identify.

She is quite different from the female House Finch...

Not only does the Purple Finch have a distinct white eyebrow stripe, but she also has streaks that are crisply defined, compared to the blurry look of the House Finch.

Purple Finches are here in coastal Carolina only during winter months, heading north to breed, maybe as far as Canada. House Finches, on the other hand, breed here between March and August. Young birds resemble their mothers. It’s not uncommon to watch parents attending to young fledglings as in this series of photographs…

Did you know…

• The Purple Finch is the state bird of New Hampshire! North Carolina’s state bird is also red– it’s the Northern Cardinal.
• In the 1930’s, Roger Tory Peterson, author of a field guide to birds, referred to the Purple Finch as a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice!
• The redder the male’s plumage, the more attractive he is to the females.

For more photo-encounters with Finches, check out…

• Summer Finches >>