Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

County List:

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

1st alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (White Pine (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern White Cedar (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Treed Bog
   containing:
      (Stand/Gap Openings and Mast)

2nd alternative:
      (Spruce/Fir (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (White Pine (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Northern White Cedar (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Lowland Conifer (Pole or Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Treed Bog
   containing:
      (Stand/Gap Openings and Mast)
   adjacent to:
      Edge

Habitat List:

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Literature:

Habitat: Coniferous forests and northern hardwoods mixed with conifers, and the edges of these forests, are the preferred habitats of breeding Purple Finches in the state. They are especially common in moist areas where balsam fir, white cedar, hemlock, spruce, and white pine are the dominant species in the canopy. Spruce bogs and coniferous forest along the Great Lakes are also favorite haunts of this species in summer. They are much less common in jack-pine forests compared to other coniferous forests. The Purple Finch can also be found nesting among conifer and ornamental plantings near homes in the northern part of the state. Nests are shallow cups and are frequently placed toward the end of a branch.

In migration and during winter this gregarious species can be found in a wide array of habitats including suburban areas (especially where there are many conifers), deciduous swamps and bogs, and deciduous woodlands.

Because the Purple Finch inhabits both the interior and edges of coniferous forest or mixed hardwood-coniferous forest, it may tolerate selective lumbering and small clearcuts better than many species.

Habitat: Breeding: Edges of coniferous forest, evergreen plantations, ornamental conifers in residential areas, parks, open mixed woodlands. Wintering: Largely deciduous woodlands. Common at feeding stations.

Special Habitat Requirements: Coniferous trees.

Habitat: Woods, groves, suburbs. Breeds mostly in coniferous and mixed woods, both in forest interior and along edges. In migration and winter, found in a wide variety of wooded and semi-open areas including forest, suburbs, swamps, and overgrown fields.

Diet: Seeds, buds, berries, insects. Feeds mainly on seeds in winter, including seeds of trees such as ash and elm, as well as weed and grass seeds. Also eats buds of many trees and many berries and small fruits. Eats some insects such as caterpillars and beetles, mainly in summer. Young may be fed mostly on seeds.

Nest: Placed on horizontal branch or fork of tree (usually conifer in east), often well out from trunk. Typically about 15-20 feet above ground but may be lower or up to 50 feet high. Nest is compact open cup of twigs, weeds, rootlets, strips of bark, lined with fine grass, moss, animal hair.

Conservation Status: Probably decreased in northeast in late 19th century after introduction of House Sparrow. In recent decades, has declined further in that area, possibly because of competition with House Finch.