House Finch Purple Finch

As you can see it isnt purple. The purple finch prefers to inhabit coniferous forests and mixed forests in the lowlands.

January Bird Forecast Travis Audubon

Purple finches tend to have more extensive red coloring than the house finch male especially on the back and back of head.

House finch purple finch. However purple finches are more stocky than the house finch. The most obvious field mark is the bill. House finch es are common and widespread across most of north america including hawaii.

Other differences for both males and females bill tail etc are noted below. Note the bold brown and white pattern on the head of the female purple finch as opposed to the more plain head of the female house finch. The problem here is that you actually have to have them perched next to each other to tell the difference.

House finch males have distinctive streaks on their flank. House finches are typically more slender than purple finches which often look stocky with a larger head and thicker neck in proportion to their body size. Body shape can be distorted by a birds posture and movement however so it is important to observe birds in a casual relaxed perch pose to accurately determine shape.

The purple finch is the bird that roger tory peterson famously described as a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice for many of us theyre irregular winter visitors to our feeders although these chunky big beaked finches do breed in northern north america and the west coast. Meanwhile p urple finch es nest in canada along the pacific and in the northeast. Purple finches range in size from 47 to 63 inches which is pretty close to the house finch.

Female purple finch the house finch has what looks like streaking on the breast and the sides. In winter they migrate as far south as florida but they dont typically visit the interior west at any time of year. The purple finch looks as if it someone poured purple dye on its head and the color moved over the original brown and cream and flowed down the back and down the chest.

The purple finch has stripes but not streaking. The male purple finch has a rosy overall color with much less. Chuck hagner editor the november december 2016 issue of birdwatching containing david sibleys tips for identifying purple and house finches went on sale at barnes noble and other newsstands november 8.

The purple finch is the bird that roger tory peterson famously described as a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice for many of us theyre irregular winter visitors to our feeders although these chunky big beaked finches do breed in northern north america and the west coast. And the color is extensive washing from the head onto the back and the throat and breast and blending seamlessly onto the flanks. The bill of the purple finch is conical shaped whereas the upper mandible of the house finch is curved downward.

They are in intense competition with the house finch so they avoid the more heavily populated urban areas. The male house finch is an reddish orange while the male purple finch is a reddish purple. They can be found in rural residential areas.

Purple Finch Audubon Field Guide