These sparrow-sized visitors from Canada arrive in October and linger into May and is perhaps our best known of "winter finches".   The Purple Finch breeds across southern and central Canada and in the United States,  in New England, in the Great Lakes region, and along the pacific coast down into California.   The Purple Finch Winters throughout the eastern United States and in the states on the western seaboard.  The preferred habitat is mixed and coniferous woodlands.

Anyone who maintains a winter bird feeder well stocked with sunflower seeds will sooner or later be visited by the purple finch. The majority of the individuals will be the females and immature males while only about ten percent will be displaying the attractive rosy garb of the adult male.

Like most other winter finches, these birds are relatively tame and sometimes almost totally disregard the presence of people. I remember numerous occasions when in the field they allowed me to approach within several feet as they were feeding. Many of those who dine at my window feeder allow me to almost press my nose against the glass before retreating.

During courtship the male sings and "hops" as high as 6 to 12 inches with chest puffed out, tail cocked, and wings dangling and vibrating while holding nesting material in it beak.   The clutch consists of 4-5 blue-green eggs, spotted with dark brown especially at the larger end.   The nest is a well made cup of grass and twigs lined with hair and placed on the horizontal branches of conifers.  The eggs are incubated for about 13 days, by the female and the young leave the nest about 14 days later.

The diet is varied and consists mainly of seeds, but also includes buds, blossoms, and insects in spring and fruits during the summer.

Length 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 inches