Fauna Flora Photography

Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus

A beautiful finch, mostly migratory, nesting in coniferous and mixed forests in the area. In competition and displaced by house finch and house sparrow.

Specs

Length15-17cm
Weight20-30g
Wingspan25-30cm

Common Names

GermanPurpurgimpel
EnglishPurple Finch
FrenchRoselin pourpré
SpanishCamachuelo purpúreo

Taxonomy

OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFringillidae
SpeciesHaemorhous purpureus

How to Identify

Males have a raspberryred head and pink body. Tail feathers and wings are brown. Female is mostly brown with a distinctive white stripe above the eye. Belly is white with brown stripes.

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) - Granby - 2017-07-22

Where and When to Spot

Only observed in remote locations and not urban areas near Montreal.

Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.