Haemorhous purpureus

Fringillidae

The native cousin the introduced House Finch is displacing. Purple Finches are rose-red and raspberry — a color often described as 'a sparrow dipped in raspberry juice' — with a more contrasting face pattern than the House Finch. They breed in Canadian and northern US conifer forests and arrive in NJ in irregular winter numbers.

Irruptive — arrives in NJ in variable numbers from October through April, depending on northern seed crops.

Identify by

How to spot one.

5–6 inches, slightly larger than House Finch
Male: raspberry-red wash over head, chest, back, and rump (not confined to head like House Finch)
Female: brown-streaked with strong pale eyebrow and white 'moustache' stripe — much more contrasty than female House Finch
Notched tail
Thicker, more conical bill than House Finch

Voice

What it sounds like.

Rich, warbled musical song — clearly more melodic than the House Finch's rougher notes.

Life & behavior

How it lives.

Prefers native conifer forests and mixed woodlands. Feeds heavily on tree seeds, buds, and berries. Winter numbers vary dramatically year to year based on northern cone crops (irruptive migration pattern).

At a glance

The spec sheet.

Status: Winter visitor
Size: 4.7–6.3 inches
Present in NJ: October – April
Native to NJ: Yes
Conservation status: declining
Family: Fringillidae

Diet

What it eats.

Diet often shifts dramatically between breeding season and the rest of the year — especially for insectivorous birds that pivot to native berries in fall and winter.

Summer / breeding season

Breeds in Canadian and northern US forests
Conifer seeds, insects during breeding

Fall / winter

Conifer seeds (native pines, spruces, hemlocks)
Ash, maple, and elm seeds
Tree buds
Berries: sumac, dogwood, wild grape
Black-oil sunflower at feeders

Plants it uses

What it needs.

Native plants that feed this bird or provide shelter. Names in hydrangea link to the plant’s Field Guide entry.

Native pines, hemlocks, spruces
Seed source
Native maples
Seed source
Eastern Redbud
Seed source
Native ash trees (surviving Emerald Ash Borer)
Seed source

Conservation

Documented decline of ~50% since 1970 across much of the range, partly attributed to House Finch competition and habitat conversion.

Sources

All About Birds (Cornell) · Delaware Nature Society · Audubon