We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
20485 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Phone: (313) 881-1410
Fax: (313) 881-2008
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Fri: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Comments:
Free parking available at rear of store.
This winter, it has been predicted that we “may” have an irruptive year for Purple Finches. An irruption is a large, often unpredictable movement of birds into an area where they are generally uncommon. So how can you make a prediction about the unpredictable?
Data is gathered in Ontario about trees that produce the foods that comprise the major food of finches, including spruce, white pine, hemlock, and white birch crops. As reported in Ron Pittiway’s Winter Finch Forecast on EBird, Purple Finches will stay in the north only when most tree species have heavy seed crops. This fall, most Purple Finches will migrate south out of the province of Ontario because overall tree seed crops are too low to provide enough food for this winter.
Now that we know there is a potential for Purple Finch, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of the differences between Purple Finches and their more common relative, the House Finch. In males, the Purple Finch has a coloration that begins on the head and continues down the neck, breast and flanks and into the wings and back feathers, whereas the neck and back of the House Finch is brown, not colorful. Note that the Purple Finch has streaking on the breast that does not continue down onto the belly, whereas the House Finch is streaked down the entire breast and belly. The Purple Finch has a belly that is white.
Perhaps the most difficult feature to learn between Purple Finch and House Finch is the color difference. The House Finch is brighter red with orange tones, while the Purple Finch has more of a Raspberry color. When reading about Purple Finches, I came across an interesting anecdote. The Latin purpureus was derived from the Greek porphura for a shellfish from which Tyrean purple dye was obtained and used by the ancient Romans as their Imperial Purple, a color quite similar to the color of a Purple Finch.
The size comparison is difficult to discern as both finches are six inches long and have a similar wingspan. The Purple Finch is slightly bulkier, 25 grams as opposed to 21 grams. Pete Dunne describes the bird as the “Robust and Raspberry Red Finch” in his Essential Field Guide Companion. Although not always seen, the head of a Purple Finch can have a “cresty” look as opposed to the House Finch, which has a flatter head shape. When observing the females of these species, the same streaking on the belly or lack thereof is definitive. Additionally, the female Purple Finch has a bold white “eyebrow” or supercillium.
There are a few other fine points that can assist you in making a determination as to whether you are looking at the uncommon Purple Finch. The tail of the Purple Finch is more deeply notched and shorter than the tail of House Finch. The powerful, conical beak of the Purple Finch are larger than any sparrows beak.
Purple Finch will feed at nyjer (thistle) feeders as well as at feeders that offer sunflower seeds. If you see them in the neighborhood, their preference is to perch and forage on the higher and outer branches of tress. If you are lucky enough to hear them sing, their song is a hurried, run-on warble that is sweeter than that of the House Finch.
Keep your binoculars handy and enjoy sorting through the finches - perhaps you will be rewarded with a good look at a winter visitor!
Enjoy your birds!
Rosann Kovalcik is a Certified Birdfeeding Specialist
and the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited,
20485 Mack Ave in Grosse Pointe Woods
Questions or Comments – Mail to RosannKovalcik@comcast.net
www.wbu.com/grossepointewoods
