Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Male Purple Finch (right) with an American Goldfinch.

Similar to the common House Finches, Purple Finches are uncommon in North Carolina. They are more common in rural areas, while House Finches are far more abundant in the urbs and suburbs. Male Purple Finches are raspberry colored, not red, and have indistinct streaking on the breast.

Chatham Co., NC 2/16/06.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Female Purple Finches (right) are similar to House Finches, but have distinctive white streaks on the face, above and behind the eye and in the malar area.

Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Female, Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Female, Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Female, Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Male, Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

American Goldfinches and female Purple Finches at feeder, with a male Purple Finch and an American Goldfinch coming in for a landing.

Chatham Co., NC 3/4/06.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.