Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus
Purple Finches are relatively uncommon birds where I live, and I have only a few pictures of them. Their males
can be difficult to distinguish from the widespread and abundant House Finches; one clue is that the cranberry
coloration of the Purples is more evenly extended over their bodies, and there are differences of structure and
vocalization as well. Both sexes differ only subtly from the Cassin's Finches of the mountains of western North
America; see my Cassin's page for further discussion.
Female Purple Finches have a definite facial pattern, with light areas above and below a darker eye and cheek, see above and below; female House Finches by contrast have unpatterned faces, see here. The bird below is from the eastern population, which differs from the Pacific in vocalization and to a lesser extent in appearance.
