Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

✨ Shiny — winter rarity
Winter only — roughly November through March✨ Shiny — winter rarity

The take

Like a House Finch dipped in raspberry juice — an irregular winter treat at feeders.

How to ID it

  • Male washed raspberry-red on head, breast, and back
  • Female coarsely streaked with a bold whitish eyebrow and dark throat-side stripe
  • Chunky finch with a large conical bill and notched tail

Field marks at a glance

Size
small
Head
raspberry red (male) / streaked brown with white eyebrow (female)
Call
musical warble; sharp pik in flight

Where & when

Winter only — roughly November through March

Learn more

Sources