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Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): SNA
External links
Species range
BREEDING: northern British Columbia and Yukon to Newfoundland, south to California and northwestern Baja California, Great Lakes region, Pennsylvania, New England, and in the Appalachians south to West Virginia and Virginia. NON-BREEDING: southwestern British Columbia to northern Baja California, and from southern Canada to southern Texas, Gulf Coast, and central Florida.
Migration
Mountain-nesting populations in the West migrate elevationally. Northern breeding populations generally are long-distance migrants.
Habitat
Open coniferous forest (especially fir and spruce), mixed forest, forest edge, open woodland, second growth, cultivated areas with trees, swamp openings, city parks, suburbs. In migration and winter also in deciduous forest, weedy areas, bird feeders in residential areas. BREEDING: Nests usually high in conifers in the east, in both conifers and deciduous trees in the west (Terres 1980).
Food habits
Eats seeds (fall, winter, spring), insects (late spring), and fruits (summer) (Terres 1980). Young are fed primarily seeds.
Ecology
Occasionally forms same-sex postbreeding flocks of 20-30. Somewhat gregarious in winter, flocking with pine siskins and American goldfinches (Byrd and Johnston 1991).
Reproductive characteristics
Clutch size 3-6 (usually 4-5). Probably 2 broods per year in west, 1 in east. Incubation 13 days, by female. Young tended by both parents, leave nest at about 14 days.
Threats or limiting factors
In the eastern U.S., possibly threatened by competition with the introduced house finch.
