Finches (Fringillidae)
Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus. Seeds, buds, blossoms and fruit, with some insects in summer.
Finches (Fringillidae)Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus
- Scientific name
- Haemorhous purpureus
- Length
- 4.7–6.3 in
- Weight
- 0.6–1.1 oz
- Nest
- Cup nest in conifers, usually well out on a branch
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 13 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Male washed raspberry-pink over head, breast and back, with little streaking on the belly
- Female brown-and-white with a bold pale eyebrow and dark cheek patch
- Stout bill with a straighter upper edge and a notched tail
Voice
Rich, fast warble; a sharp "tuck" call in flight.
Diet and feeding
Seeds, buds, blossoms and fruit, with some insects in summer.
What do purple finches eat? · Best feeder for purple finches
Purple Finchs by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | June–July |
| California | Year-round resident | April–July |
| Connecticut | Winter visitor | — |
| Delaware | Winter visitor | — |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Winter visitor | — |
| Illinois | Winter visitor | — |
| Indiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Iowa | Winter visitor | — |
| Kansas | Winter visitor | — |
| Kentucky | Winter visitor | — |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Manitoba | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Maryland | Winter visitor | — |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Winter visitor | — |
| Nebraska | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | June–July |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | June–July |
| New Jersey | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Year-round resident | June–July |
| North Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Ohio | Winter visitor | — |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Prince Edward Island | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Rhode Island | Winter visitor | — |
| Saskatchewan | Year-round resident | June–July |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| Tennessee | Winter visitor | — |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | June–July |
| Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Washington | Year-round resident | May–July |
| West Virginia | Winter visitor | — |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | June–July |
Often confused with
Frequently asked
What do purple finches eat?
Seeds, buds, blossoms and fruit, with some insects in summer. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, hulled sunflower, nyjer.
How big is a Purple Finch?
4.7–6.3 in long and 0.6–1.1 oz.
Do purple finches use birdhouses?
No. Cup nest in conifers, usually well out on a branch.
Sources
- Purple Finch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Finch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Purple Finch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.