Scientific Name:   Haemorhous purpureus

Length:   4.7-6.3 in (12-16 cm)

Weight:   0.6-1.1 oz (18-32 g)

Wingspan:   8.7-10.2 in (22-26 cm)

Nest:   The female Purple Finch usually builds her nest on horizontal branches of coniferous trees, away from the trunk, but occasionally in tree forks. The nest is shaped like an open cup, made up of rootlets, twigs, and weeds, and lined with grass, hair, and moss.

Eggs:   4-5, sometimes 3-6. Pale greenish blue, marked with black and brown. Incubation is by female, about 13 days.

Feeding Behavior:   These birds forage in trees and bushes, sometimes in ground vegetation. They mainly eat seeds, berries, and insects. They are fond of sunflower seeds, millet, and thistle.

Young:   Both parents feed the nestlings. Young leave nest about 2 weeks after hatching.

Range:   Their breeding habitat is coniferous and mixed forest in Canada and the northeastern United States, as well as various wooded areas along the U.S. Pacific coast. Birds from northern Canada migrate to the southern United States; other birds are permanent residents. In winter they’re more widespread, using forests, shrubby areas, weedy fields, hedgerows, and backyards.

Brief Description:   It has a short forked brown tail and brown wings. Adult males are raspberry red on the head, breast, back and rump; their back is streaked. Adult females have light brown upperparts and white underparts with dark brown streaks throughout; they have a white line on the face above the eye. The purple finch was designated the state bird of New Hampshire in 1957.