Bird Guide

Purple Finch vs Redpoll

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)

Purple Finch

Haemorhous purpureus

Small23 gForest

The purple finch is 12–16 cm (4.7–6.3 in) in overall length and weighs a mean 23.3 g (0.82 oz), ranging from 19.8 to 28.4 g (0.7 - 1.0 oz). 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 subspecies H. p. californicus differs from the nominate in having a longer tail and shorter wings. Voice: Purple finch males sing several types of musical vocalizations, including a continuous dense warbling that is characteristic of finches, and a rapid string of musical high and low notes used when flocking, announcing territory, or attracting a mate. The continuous song has an up-and-down cadence of various notes. Nesting females have their own songs.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Doug Hynes · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region · Public domain
Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)

Redpoll

Acanthis flammea

Tiny13 gForest

The redpoll is a small brownish-grey finch with dark streaks and a bright red patch on its forehead. It has a black bib and two pale stripes on the wings. Males' breasts are often suffused with red. Adults measure between 11.5 and 14 centimetres (4.5 and 5.5 in) in length and weighing between 12 and 16 grams (0.42 and 0.56 oz). Wingspan ranges from 7.5 to 8.7 in (19–22 cm). The rump is streaked and there is a broad dark brown streak across the vent. It has brown legs, a dark-tipped yellowish bill and dark brown irises.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Sonothèque ADVL · CC0
Photo: Михаил Языков · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Purple Finch and Redpoll.