The purple finch is a small but vibrantly colored songbird found across much of North America. Male purple finches are rosy red on the head, breast, back and rump, with brownish streaking on the back and sides. Females are much duller, with brown streaky plumage all over. Purple finches make cup-shaped nests out of plant materials such as twigs, stems, grass and moss. Their nesting habits are adapted to take advantage of the resources available across their wide range.
Nesting Habitat Preferences
Purple finches breed across Canada and the northern United States, as well as down the mountains into New Mexico and Arizona. They are found in both deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as more open habitats with sufficient trees or shrubs for nesting.
Purple finches prefer to nest in moist coniferous or mixed forests with a closed canopy. Though they primarily nest in evergreens such as fir and spruce, they will also nest in deciduous trees when conifers are not available. Ideal habitat provides a combination of dense understory vegetation and an open mid-canopy layer where the actual nest is placed.
Nest Placement
Purple finch nests are typically placed fairly high above the ground, 10-80 feet up depending on habitat and tree species. They favor horizontal branches rather than forks or vertical limbs. Nests are well concealed by surrounding branches and needles, often near the trunk or a main branch against the trunk.
The male purple finch chooses potential nesting sites, then the female selects the final nest location. The nests are built entirely by the female over a period of several days. She weaves together twigs, stems, bark strips and grasses, binding them with spider webs and saliva. The inner cup is lined with softer materials like moss, lichens and plant down.
Nesting Timeline
Purple finches breed relatively early across most of their range, with nesting timed to coincide with peak food availability in each region. In the southern parts of their range, they may start nesting activities as early as late February. Further north, they typically begin nesting in April or May.
First the nest is built, a process taking 3-6 days. Then the female lays a clutch of 3-6 pale bluish-green eggs with brown speckles. The eggs are incubated for 12-14 days while the male feeds the female. After hatching, both parents bring food to the helpless, featherless nestlings for 11-14 days until they fledge. Purple finches produce one or sometimes two broods per year.
Adaptability in Nest Sites
Purple finches are adaptable in their nest site selection, taking advantage of their environment. A few examples:
- In coniferous forests, they nest on horizontal branches of firs, spruces or pines.
- In mixed or deciduous woodlands, they use deciduous trees like elms, maples and birches.
- Along forest edges, nests may be placed in shrubs or small trees like dogwood, serviceberry or sumac.
- In more open areas, they will nest in orchards, shelterbelts or ornamental plantings if sufficient cover is available.
This adaptability allows them to take advantage of suitable nesting spots across diverse habitats. The key requirements are sufficient foliage cover above the nest, and adequate twigs and plant materials available during nest building.
Geographic Variation in Nest Sites
We can examine some regional differences in the nesting habitats and sites selected by purple finches across their breeding range:
Eastern Forests
In the deciduous forests of eastern North America, purple finches nest in both conifers and hardwoods. Common nest trees include spruces, firs, pines, hemlocks, beech, birch, maple, elm and basswood. They are found nesting in both upland and swamp woods.
Western Mountains
In the mountain forests of the west, purple finches primarily nest in conifers at mid to high elevations. Nesting trees include Douglas fir, spruce, true firs, pines and other conifers. They may ascend to timberline in late summer after nesting at lower elevations.
Boreal Forests
The vast boreal forests across Canada provide ideal breeding habitat for purple finches. Here they nest almost exclusively in conifers, with spruce and fir being most important. They favor moist woods over drier sites.
Aspen Parklands
In the aspen parklands of central Canada, purple finches breed in the scattered stands of spruce and pine. Where conifers are scarce, they may nest in deciduous thickets. Nest height is lower here than in dense coniferous woods.
Western Canyons
Purple finches breed down the mountain canyons of the southwest in pine, oak and juniper woodlands. The nests are placed on horizontal branches of trees along canyon slopes or in riparian areas.
Synthesis of Geographic Patterns
Though purple finch nesting habits vary across their range, some consistent patterns emerge:
- They prefer conifers where available, especially spruces, firs and pines.
- Where conifers are scarce, they will readily use deciduous trees.
- Moister, dense forests are favored over dry, open woodlands.
- Nests are typically 6-80 feet above ground.
- They prefer horizontal, well-concealed sites near the trunk.
- Adaptability allows them to nest across diverse habitats.
Their nest placement evolves to take advantage of local vegetation, demonstrating the species’ flexible adaptations to breeding across an expansive range.
Threats and Conservation
Purple finch populations declined across much of North America since the 1960s, though they remain common in some areas. Habitat loss is a contributing factor, as mature forests with suitable nesting sites are cleared.
Sufficient suitable breeding habitat must be preserved across their range. Conserving moist coniferous and mixed forests will benefit purple finches, providing the necessary nesting materials and concealment. Responsible forest management techniques, like selective thinning rather than clear-cutting, can maintain nesting and foraging habitat. Monitoring of purple finch nesting ecology can identify habitats in need of protection.
With active habitat conservation, purple finches will continue brightening North American forests with their colorful breeding plumage and lively songs for generations to come. Though their nest placement adapts to local conditions, they consistently favor certain forest types and nest site characteristics. Understanding their nesting biology and monitoring populations will inform efforts to provide diverse and abundant breeding habitat across the purple finch’s range.
Conclusion
Purple finches skillfully construct concealed cup nests using available plant materials which allow them to breed across much of North America. They preferentially nest in coniferous or mixed forests, favoring horizontal sites on a branch against the trunk, high above the forest floor. Their adaptability in using both conifers and deciduous trees lets them take advantage of suitable habitat across diverse regions, from eastern hardwoods to western mountains. Conserving habitats with their preferred nesting locations will ensure thriving purple finch populations. Ongoing monitoring and research provides key insights into their nesting ecology to guide effective conservation. With proactive management, the musical trills of the purple finch will continue to ring out from forests across North America for generations to come.