Purple Finch
“Shortly thereafter I noticed the distinct facial markings and whitish eyebrow of Haemorhous purpureus, the first female Purple Finch that I had seen on our property since last Spring!”
Through the year
Columns that mention it, by the month they were published.
Year by year
Columns that mention it each year.
In his words
Ten of the 14 passages, oldest first.
Purple Finches and Red-breasted Nuthatches have been noticably absent when compared to this time last year.
However, heading into the last two weeks of the month Purple Finches seemed to have made a rather noteworthy return to our beloved Cape woodlands.
With November upon us the increased number of red-breasted nuthatches and slight uptick in purple finches is perhaps a harbinger of what is yet to come.
We had a Purple finch at our feeders too.
Furthermore, on the same day and on the 29th as well, a single female Purple Finch showed up on our backyard feeders.
As of last year, this report has grown to include detailed forecasts for eight irruptive finch species, including Purple Finches, Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Hoary Redpolls Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins and Evening Grosbeaks.
Later that afternoon a total of five Purple Finches, two males and three females were cracking black-sunflower seeds at our feeder.
Of note, with a little undercover work I was able to determine that the odd, shrill cry that I had been hearing in our backyard was coming a male Purple Finch courting a rather coy female.
Shortly thereafter I noticed the distinct facial markings and whitish eyebrow of Haemorhous purpureus, the first female Purple Finch that I had seen on our property since last Spring!
One late afternoon the two siskins were alone on the finch tube when four female Purple Finches appeared.
Show all 14 passages
May 17 – This afternoon I came across a female Purple Finch resting in a small Pine Tree on the outskirts of my backyard.
Purple Finches are always a special treat to see because I do not see these gems very often.
Just as exciting, the forecast predicts strong southward pushes of Purple Finches and Redpolls.
On the morning of October 31, four female Purple Finches quietly arrived at our backyard feeder.