Purple finches are a species of finch native to North America. They are known for their bright purple-red plumage which gives them their name. Though they can be found throughout much of North America, purple finches are considered rare in some parts of their range.
Quick Answers
Are purple finches rare? The answer depends on where you are located. Overall, purple finches are fairly common across much of North America. However, their numbers can fluctuate from year to year, so in some regions they may be considered uncommon or even rare during certain time periods.
Population Status of Purple Finches
The global population of purple finches is estimated to be around 19 million breeding birds. They have an extremely large range across North America. Their total population is believed to be stable and they are classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
However, Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data shows significant declines in purple finch numbers in some areas since the 1960s, including an average decline of 2.1% per year from 1966 to 2015 across their U.S. and Canadian range. Local populations can fluctuate dramatically, including irruptions where large numbers move south in winter.
Regional Rarity
Though purple finches are common and widespread overall, they are considered rare, uncommon or even locally extirpated in certain parts of their range. Areas where purple finches may be rare or declining include:
- Western U.S. – Rare along the Pacific Coast and desert Southwest.
- Southcentral U.S. – Rare and local breeder in the southern Plains states.
- Southeastern U.S. – Uncommon to rare breeder in the southeastern coastal states.
- Eastern Canada – Declining; rare in parts of eastern Canada such as Nova Scotia.
In contrast, purple finches remain fairly common and widespread across much of their core range in northeastern and north-central North America.
Reasons for Rarity
There are several hypothesized reasons why purple finch numbers may be declining in parts of their range leading to localized rarity:
- Habitat loss and degradation – Loss of natural coniferous and mixed forests reduces nesting and foraging areas.
- Increased range of house finches – Competition with expanding house finch populations may negatively impact purple finches.
- Disease – A mycoplasmal conjunctivitis outbreak in the 1990s caused massive declines in eastern populations.
- Climate change – Possible mismatch between food sources and breeding. Warming winters may reduce irruptions.
Identification
Identifying purple finches and distinguishing them from similar species is important for monitoring their populations in areas where they are rare or declining. Purple finches have several distinctive identification features:
- Adult males are raspberry-red overall with browner streaking on the back and breast. The red color may appear more pinkish.
- Females are much duller brown overall with heavy streaking. They lack any bright red.
- Conical bill shape; rounded head shape.
- Stocky, sparrow-like shape with large head and short tail.
- Prominent notched tail and short wings.
- Juveniles resemble females but are streakier below and have a blotchy face.
Species | Male Plumage | Female Plumage | Bill Shape |
---|---|---|---|
Purple Finch | Raspberry-red | Dull brown heavily streaked | Thick conical |
House Finch | Reddish-orange | Plain brown streaked | More pointed |
Cassin’s Finch | Rose-pink | Brown streaked | Small pointed |
The stocky shape, conical bill, lack of bright red in females, and western range help distinguish purple finches from similar finch species. In the East, female purple finches are browner and more heavily streaked than female house finches.
Where to Find Purple Finches
To find purple finches in areas where they are considered rare or declining, look in the following habitats during the breeding season (generally April to July):
- Coniferous forests – Especially those with spruce, fir, hemlock, pine; often nest in older forests.
- Mixed forests – Deciduous trees mixed with conifers; prefer edges over dense forest interior.
- Pine plantations – Will forage in open pine woods lacking understory.
- Backyard feeders – Often visit platform feeders with black oil sunflower seeds.
Outside the breeding season they can be found in wider variety of forested areas, parks, and backyards. Irruptive flocks may turn up anywhere there are berry plants or seed sources.
Best Locations
Some of the best locations to spot purple finches in regions where they are uncommon include:
- Pacific Northwest – higher elevation fir-spruce forests, Puget Trough
- California – North Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, Sierra Nevada foothills
- Southwest – isolated mountain ranges of Arizona, New Mexico, Trans-Pecos Texas
- Plains States – Black Hills of South Dakota; parts of Colorado Front Range
- Southeast – Appalachian Mountains; Ouachita Mountains
- Eastern Canada – parts of southern Ontario, southern Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Conservation Status
While still considered a species of Least Concern globally by the IUCN Red List, the purple finch has been identified as a Common Bird in Steep Decline by Partners in Flight. They receive legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the U.S. and Canada.
To help conserve purple finches, actions include protecting coniferous and mixed forest habitats, planting native berry and seed producing plants, reducing pesticide use, and properly cleaning bird feeders to stop disease spread.
Monitoring purple finch populations, especially in regions where they are rare or declining, is important for tracking their conservation status and guiding appropriate management responses. Submitting observations to citizen science databases such as eBird helps researchers analyze changes over time.
Summary and Conclusions
In summary, while purple finches have an extensive range across much of North America, they are specifically considered rare or uncommon in parts of the western and eastern U.S, as well as southeastern Canada. Their numbers have declined significantly in some areas per long-term monitoring data.
Probable reasons for declining numbers and rarity in parts of their range include habitat loss, disease, climate change impacts, and competition with house finches. Careful identification and distinction from similar species is important for monitoring rare purple finch populations.
Conserving and restoring natural coniferous and mixed forest habitats can help support purple finch populations. Ongoing monitoring and reporting of observations informs researchers on population trends and guides conservation priorities for this colorful finch.