photo by Phil Swanson

Carpodacus purpureus
L 6″ (15 cm).

Song or calls:
Rich “cheer-lee.” Song is complicated prolonged warble, less variable than House Finch’s.

Description: Not really purple but rose red over most of adult male body; color is brightest on head, breast, and rump. Dark brown wings; dark streaking on back; broad brown eye stripe; dark strongly notched tail; and whitish belly. Lacks brown streaking on sides unlike male House Finch. Females and immatures are brown overall, with dark heavy streaking below; whitish eyebrow and mustache stripe.

Habitat: Winter birds are mainly associated with woodland streams, and forest edges.

Where in Nebraska: Sometimes seen at residential bird feeders. Uncommon spring and fall migrant and winter visitor in eastern Nebraska and the Pine Ridge. Rare elsewhere in the state.

Field Notes: Birds in the northern U.S. are migratory, but they only move to the southern states.

Fun Facts: Purple Finches often incorporate other birds’ songs into their own musical warbling.

 
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