Purple Finchs in Newfoundland and Labrador
When purple finches are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
When to expect purple finches in Newfoundland and Labrador
Purple Finchs live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward tree seeds (ash, elm, tulip poplar); black-oil sunflower at feeders.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, purple finches typically nest from June–July. Nest site: cup nest in conifers, usually well out on a branch. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 13 days, and young leave the nest after 13–14 days.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Purple Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, paper birch, red maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract purple finches
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover purple finches use:
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Waxy fruit carries Yellow-rumped Warblers through coastal winters.
Feeding purple finches through the Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for purple finches · Best feeder for purple finches
Frequently asked
Are purple finches in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
Yes. Purple Finchs are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
When do purple finches nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 13 days.
What native plants attract purple finches in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Winterberry, Paper birch, Red maple, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry, Bayberry are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for purple finches.
Purple Finchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.