Female Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Female Purple Finch on the window sill.

Purple Finches are one of our winter birds.  Most years we have them; some years we don't.  2011 is a good year for Purple Finches.  The brightly colored, reddish-purple males give this species its common name, but I haven't been able to get a male to pose for photos yet.  Besides, I think the striking brown and white patterns on the female are attractive too.  You can see photos of males on the Cornell Labs site.

Cornell says, "Purple Finches breed mainly in coniferous forests or mixed deciduous and coniferous woods. During winter you can find them in a wider variety of habitats, including shrublands, old fields, forest edges, and backyards."  At the feeder, they prefer sunflower seeds.

The best shot of a female Purple Finch's back  I've been able to get thus far.

.

Female Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

We have American Goldfinches year around, but have many more during the winter.  They are one of our most common feeder birds.  When the Goldfinches start really getting into their breeding plumage in the spring, most head north.


"The goldfinch’s main natural habitats are weedy fields and floodplains, where plants such as thistles and asters are common. They’re also found in cultivated areas, roadsides, orchards, and backyards. American Goldfinches can be found at feeders any time of year, but most abundantly during winter."  (From The Cornell Lab of Ornithology where there are many more photos and more information about these beautiful little bird.)

I'm not much of a birder, but I believe the top photo is a male and the bottom a female.  If anyone with more experience disagrees, I'll be glad to make a correction in this post.  Both birds were at the feeder hanging outside our dining nook window.  Many people feed thistle seeds to Goldfinches and I'm sure the birds enjoy them, but our Goldfinches have never refused the sunflower seeds we feed.  

.

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)