Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
 Purple Finch males look "dipped in raspberry juice" |
General Description: Purple Finches (Carpodacus purpureus) are little finches of the middle-elevation mountains. Males have dark red on the breast, entire head, and rump. They are said to have a "dipped in raspberry juice" appearance. Female Purple Finches are heavily streaked and have a bold eyeline. Purple finches also have unstreaked undertail coverts (feathers under the base of the tail), while House Finches and Cassin's Finches have streaked undertail coverts. Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Fringillidae, Carduelinae. Favored Habitat: Lower- and middle-elevation mountain forests. |
 Purple Finch males lack streaking on breast |
Where to Find: Mt. Charleston and other mountain areas. Comments: The female finches are easier to identify then males, which can be hard to separate. There are three species of Carpodacus finches in the Las Vegas area: House Finches, Purple Finches, and Cassin's Finches. House Finches occur in the desert, Purple Finches occur in the middle-elevation mountains, and Cassin's Finches occur in higher-elevation mountains. The habitat of Purple Finches overlaps the other two, but female Purple Finches are easy to identify because they are heavily streaked and have a bold eyeline. |
RJWilkin2009.jpg) Purple Finch males lack streaking on undertail coverts |
This Purple Finch, photographed by Bob Wilkin in Victoria, BC, clearly shows the unstreaked undertail coverts. Other characteristics, such as the brighter color and a bit of streaking on the breast, differ from southern Nevada birds, but the undertail coverts are still nice and white. |
 Male Purple Finch |
 Male and female Purple Finches on a seed feeder at Mt. Charleston |
 Female Purple Finches have heavy streaking and a bold eyeline |
 Female Purple Finches on a seed feeder at Mt. Charleston |
 Female Purple Finch at Mormon Well Spring in the Sheep Range |
 Female Purple Finch in Kyle Canyon on Mt. Charleston |
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Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240126
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