Mississippi · Winter visitor

Purple Finchs in Mississippi

When purple finches are present in Mississippi, when they nest, which native Mississippi plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 7b–9a yard.

Finches (Fringillidae)Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus

Status in Mississippi: Winter visitor
Nesting window: Does not typically nest here
Hardiness zones: USDA 7b–9a

When to expect purple finches in Mississippi

In Mississippi, purple finches are winter visitors rather than breeders. Mild winters with rare hard freezes. While here they rely on tree seeds (ash, elm, tulip poplar); black-oil sunflower at feeders.

Humid subtropical, with the Delta in the northwest, piney woods in the south and a short Gulf coastline.

Native Mississippi plants that attract purple finches

Of the regional native plants we track for Mississippi, these 8 provide food or cover purple finches use:

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar

Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Smooth sumac

Rhus glabra · Shrub

Red fruit heads hang on through winter.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Feeding purple finches through the Mississippi year

Purple finches are irregular winter visitors south of their breeding range — numbers swing year to year with northern cone and seed crops.

Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Nyjer.
In Mississippi's winter: Mild winters with rare hard freezes.

Full diet breakdown for purple finches · Best feeder for purple finches

Frequently asked

Are purple finches in Mississippi year-round?

No. Purple Finchs are winter visitors in Mississippi and do not typically nest there.

What native plants attract purple finches in Mississippi?

Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Smooth sumac, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum are native plants in Mississippi that provide food or cover for purple finches.

Other backyard birds in Mississippi

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird House Sparrow European Starling Rufous Hummingbird White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sources

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.