Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
Roger Tory Peterson famously described the male Purple Finch as a 'bird dipped in raspberry juice.'
- Scientific name
- Haemorhous purpureus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Fringillidae › Haemorhous
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Coniferous and mixed forests, forest edges, and suburban gardens during winter.
- Diet
- Primarily seeds, buds, and berries; occasionally consumes insects during the breeding season.
- Range
- Canada, Northeastern United States, Pacific Coast of North America
- Size
- 12-16 cm in length with a wingspan of 22-26 cm.
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years on average; record is 12 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Competition with the introduced House Finch, habitat loss, and window strikes.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. These birds are best observed from a distance with binoculars to avoid causing them stress. If you find an injured finch, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. They are not aggressive to humans.
The purple finch ( Haemorhous purpureus ) is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae.
Photo: Dani Alba, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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