Purple Finch Male

Day 205: As Roger Tory Peterson describes the male Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), the coloration resembles "a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice."

A sparrow-sized bird, Purple Finch occurs concurrently with the similar House Finch in all Pacific Coast states and New England year-'round, so it is important for birders (particularly those in these areas) to learn the points of field identification. Purple Finch males can be told from House Finch males by the blurry streaks on the breast and flanks. These are more well-defined on House Finch. The females of the two species are harder to differentiate. The female Purple Finch shows a stronger pattern of light and dark on the face and has a stubbier bill. Either species may be confused with Cassin's Finch in areas where two or more species occur. Cassin's males have a clear breast and the females show very crisp, sparse dark streaks on both the breast and the back.