Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), Copper Basin Road, Yavapai County

These Purple Finch was found and photographed by Bryan Patrick on 02 December 2015

Purple Finch is a casual transient and winter visitor with only five records since 2003, when it was reinstated on the review list. This year and last year were flight years for Purple Finch in the California deserts and there are eleven prior pending reports. 3-5 female/immatures present at this location in Prescott, along with two males, these photos show at least three individuals (one male).

This finch is readily told from a House Finch by the strong face pattern. The best characters to separate this bird from a female Cassin's Finch are the overall greenish color, rounded culmen, short primary projection and blurry breast streaking. Also note the pale arc under the eye and lack of an eyering. On the male note the even reddish color throughout, the face pattern and blurry flank streaks. The olive tones to the upperparts including wing bars, and the long blurry flank streaking identify this as the western subspecies californicus.

02 December 2015, photo by Bryan Patrick

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