Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), Aspen Creek near Prescott, Yavapai County

This Purple Finch was found by Byran Patrick on 18 November 2016 and photographed by Troy Corman on 19 November 2016

Casual and irregular fall and winter visitor to Arizona. Historically more frequent in small numbers, but still casual. Interestingly, it has been documented in Arizona the past three years, with the strongest movement into the state in several decades occurring in 2015/16.

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.Soft "pik" flight calls

19 November 2016, photo by Troy Corman

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