Purple Finch

Carpodacus purpureus
STANFORD LOCATIONS:

Uncommon and irregular migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus. Occasionally seen at feeders or foraging on fruits and seeds in the Arboretum.
Similar Species: House Finch.
Nest
Location
Nest
Type
Eggs
Mating System
Dev.
Parental Care
Primary &
2ndary Diet
Foraging
Strategy
F
I: 13 DAYS
ALTRICIAL
DECIDUOUS TREE
6 feet - 40 feet
MF
4-5
(3-6)
MONOG
F:14 DAYS
MF
INSECTS
FRUIT
FOLIAGE GLEAN
BREEDING: Open conif and mixed conif-decid forest, forest edge, open woodland. 1 brood in e, 2 in w.
DISPLAYS: Courting male hops about dangling wings and puffing out chest. With wings vibrating rapidly and tail cocked, male softly vocalizes and may rise 6-12" off the ground, occ while holding nest material in beak and singing.
NEST: Usu in conif tree in e, on horizontal branch, far from trunk. Neat shallow cup of twigs, fine roots, grass, lined with rootlets, hair, moss.
EGGS: Pale greenish-blue, marked with browns, blacks. 0.8" (20 mm).
DIET: Primarily seeds; some tree buds and blossoms from winter to early spring. Adds insects in spring, feeds heavily on fruit in summer. Young fed mostly seeds.
CONSERVATION: Winters within N.A.; erratic in distribution. Uncommon cowbird host. Competition with House Sparrow suggested cause of decrease in New England breeding range, esp in urban and suburban areas; competition with House Finch important in disappearance from e areas where ranges now overlap.
NOTES: Occ forms postbreeding unisexual flocks of 20-30. Remains somewhat gregarious during winter and may flock with siskins and goldfinches; w populations migrate altitudinally.
ESSAYS: How Long Do Birds Live?; Irruptions; Masterbuilders; Bird Communities and Competition; Avian Invaders
REFERENCES: Popp, 1987; Wootton, 1987.

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Except for Stanford Locations, the material in this species treatment is taken, with permission, from The Birder's Handbook (Paul Ehrlich, David Dobkin, & Darryl Wheye, Simon & Schuster, NY. 1988).