The bird species that is most well known for having a purple throat is the Purple Finch. The Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is a species of finch found in North America. The adult male Purple Finches have a bright raspberry red plumage on their head, breast, back and rump. Their throats are a distinctive purple-red color. This sets them apart from other similar finch species. The colorful plumage of the males is used to attract females during mating season. Below we will go into more detail on the Purple Finch’s identifying features, habitat, diet, breeding and conservation status.
Identifying Features of the Purple Finch
Some key identifying features of adult male Purple Finches include:
– Bright purple-red throat
– Pinkish-purple head, breast, back and rump
– White belly
– Brown wings with white bars
– Notched tail
– Thick conical bill suitable for cracking seeds
– Distinctive warbling song
Females have more subdued, streaky brown plumage overall. Their underparts are light with heavy streaking. The female’s throat is dull yellow-brown rather than purple. Immature birds resemble the adult female in coloration until their first molt in late summer.
Purple Finches are sparrow-sized birds, measuring 4.7-6.3 inches in length with a wingspan of 8.7-10.2 inches. They weigh 0.6 to 1.1 ounces.
Habitat
Purple Finches breed across Canada and the mountainous areas of the northwestern and northeastern United States. They are year-round residents in the West and Southwest. During winter, Purple Finches will migrate south to the northern half of the United States and southern Canada.
They prefer to reside in moist coniferous and mixed forests. This includes habitats such as spruce-fir forests at high elevations and hemlock-hardwood forests in lowlands areas. Purple Finches are also found along forest edges and openings. They avoid dry, open country.
In the Southwest United States, Purple Finches frequent oak and pine-oak woodlands. They are also found in parks, gardens and residential areas with many trees.
Diet
The diet of the Purple Finch consists primarily of seeds from trees and shrubs. Important food sources include conifer seeds, berries, tree buds and nectar from flowers.
Conifer seeds that Purple Finches are known to eat include spruce, hemlock, pine and tamarack. Favored berry producing plants include wild rose, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry. In the Southwest, the seeds of oaks such as Gambel’s oak are consumed.
Purple Finches have sturdy thick bills suited to cracking open tough seeds. They are able to extract seeds from pine and spruce cones that other birds cannot access. Nectar from flowers provides an important source of carbohydrates.
Insects are sometimes eaten, especially during the breeding season when more protein is required. Purple Finches may forage on the ground for insects and seeds. Parents also feed insect prey to their young.
Breeding and Nesting
The breeding season for Purple Finches is generally from late April through July. They often raise two broods per season.
Males perform courtship displays to attract a female. This includes ritualized hopping from branch to branch while singing loudly. If a female is receptive, she will crouch down with fluttering wings to solicit copulation.
The female chooses a nest site and does most of the construction work. Nests are cup-shaped and built out of twigs, rootlets, grass and pine needles. They are typically placed near the top of a conifer tree 5-100 feet above ground. The inner lining consists of softer materials like mosses and animal hair.
4-5 eggs are laid that are pale blue-green with reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs alone for 12-14 days until they hatch. Both parents will feed the nestlings. Young Purple Finches fledge the nest at about 14-17 days old.
Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the Purple Finch has a conservation status of “Least Concern”. They have an extremely large range and population size. The overall Purple Finch population is estimated at around 34 million individual birds.
Their numbers did decline somewhat in the early 20th century due to trapping for the pet trade. However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 now protects the species from hunting and trapping.
Habitat loss is currently one of the largest threats affecting Purple Finches. The clearing of forests for logging and human development reduces their breeding and foraging sites. Climate change may also impact their mountain habitats over the long-term. However, Purple Finches adapt readily to urban parks and gardens which provides some buffer from deforestation.
Fun Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about the colorful Purple Finch:
– Male Purple Finches get their bright purple-red plumage from carotenoid pigments in their diet. Carotenoids are naturally occurring plant compounds.
– To maintain their colorful feathers, males molt into a dull brown plumage like females after breeding. By late fall, they molt back into their brilliant breeding plumage.
– Purple Finch songs are intricate and musical warbling notes often described as a “blurry” version of the House Finch’s song.
– They are sociable birds, traveling in flocks of up to several dozen birds in the non-breeding season.
– Purple Finch populations can irrupt in large numbers southward during some winters if food is scarce in their northern range.
– There are no recognized subspecies of the Purple Finch. They are the only species within the Haemorhous genus.
Conclusion
In summary, the Purple Finch is a distinctly colored finch species found across the forests of North America. The adult males are unmistakable with their bright purple-red throats and plumage. They breed in northern regions and winter farther south depending on food availability. Purple Finches prefer coniferous forests where they feed on a variety of seeds, buds, berries and flower nectar. Their populations are considered stable and conserved for now. The Purple Finch remains one of the most colorful and musical finch species gracing the treetops of the North American wilderness.
