Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), Skunk Creek Riparian Area/Trailhead, Maricopa County

This Purple Finch was found and photographed by Tommy DeBardeleben on 05 January 2016

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 twelve prior pending reports, seven since November 2015 .

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 and blurry breast streaking. Also note the pale arc under the eye and lack of an eyering.

05 January 2016, photo by Tommy DeBardeleben

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