The house finch and purple finch are two common backyard birds that can be easily confused. While similar in appearance, they are actually two distinct species with some key differences. Understanding how to identify each species is important for birders and backyard enthusiasts who want to attract and observe these colorful creatures. This article will explore the similarities and differences between house finches and purple finches in terms of physical features, behavior, habitat, diet, breeding, distribution and more to provide a comprehensive guide on distinguishing between the two.
Physical Features
Both house finches and purple finches exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have different color patterns. This can make identification tricky, so it’s important to pay attention to subtle plumage variations.
Male Differences
Male house finches have bright red plumage on their heads, upper breasts and rumps. Their red color tends to be more extensive, often continuing down onto their chests and throats. The red feathers may have brown streaking.
Male purple finches have rich raspberry red plumage on their heads, rumps and upper breasts, but their red coloration is usually restricted to those areas. Their breasts and bellies tend to be more whitish and less streaked than house finches.
Female Differences
Females of both species are brown and streaky, but female purple finches tend to be slightly darker than house finches with more pronounced streaking on their underparts.
Female house finches have plain faces with fine streaks on their breasts and bellies. Their cheeks are brownish.
Female purple finches have very finely streaked underparts and a distinct facial pattern consisting of a broad, blurry brown stripe behind the eye, a thin buffy stripe above the eye and an unmarked gray cheek.
Body Shape and Size
House finches tend to have a slightly stouter, conical bill compared to the more slender, triangular bill of the purple finch. House finch bodies also appear more slender and elongated.
Purple finches are larger-bodied than house finches and have relatively larger heads giving them a front-heavy look. Their wings also appear a bit broader and more rounded at the tips compared to house finches when perched.
In terms of size, purple finches measure 5-6.5 inches in length and weigh 0.9-1.1 oz whereas house finches are 4.5-5.5 inches long and weigh 0.6-0.9 oz.
Tail Shape
The tails of these two species also differ slightly. House finches have a very slightly notched tail. Purple finch tails are rounded without any notch.
Voice
The songs and calls of house and purple finches are distinct.
Male house finches have a lively, warbled song ending in a series of downslurred notes sounding like “bridilidli”. Their call is a blurry “bdit”.
Purple finches have a soft, buzzy warbled song that ends in a downslurred trill “phreeee”. Their call is a soft “huditt”.
Females of both species produce simpler, unmusical calls. But the calls of female purple finches tend to be buzzier than female house finches.
Behavioral Differences
Observing how these species behave can further aid identification.
House finches are very gregarious and social. They form large flocks of 100 or more birds and readily mix with other species when feeding.
Purple finches are more solitary and shy. They usually travel in loose flocks of 10-50 birds and don’t integrate with other species as much as house finches.
House finches are also quite tolerant of human disturbance and will readily visit bird feeders and nest boxes in close proximity to people. Purple finches tend to be more wary around humans and feeders.
In flight, house finches have bouncy, undulating flight patterns with rapid wing beats. Purple finches exhibit more direct flight with slower, steady wingbeats.
Habitat Preferences
These two finch species tend to occupy slightly different habitats.
House finches are highly adaptable generalists found in urban and suburban areas as well as more open, arid countryside. They do well around human development.
Purple finches prefer more rural, wooded environments such as moist deciduous or mixed forests with clearings and edge habitat. They avoid more open, arid areas.
House finches can thrive in cities and suburbs provided there are some trees and shrubs available for nesting and roosting. Purple finches are rarely found in densely populated urban centers.
Dietary Differences
The dietary preferences of house and purple finches also show some divergence:
- House finches are more omnivorous, taking a wide variety of seeds, berries, buds and some insects. At feeders, they relish black oil sunflower seeds.
- Purple finches are more dependent on tree seeds and buds from conifers, elm, birch and other deciduous trees. They do eat some insects but are more specialized foragers. At feeders, they prefer sunflower hearts and nyjer thistle.
House finches seem better adapted to scavenging human food sources like spilled grain and crumbs. Purple finches mainly forage in trees for native seeds and buds.
Breeding Variances
In their breeding behaviors, house finches and purple finches show these contrasts:
- House finches begin breeding earlier (February to August) compared to purple finches (May to July).
- House finches produce 2-6 broods per breeding season. Purple finches nest just once.
- House finches are prolific nesters. They readily use manmade sites like hanging plant pots, gutters, eaves and nest boxes in addition to trees. Purple finches nest exclusively in tree branches.
- House finch nests are bulky, domed affairs made of grasses, weeds, twigs and debris. Purple finch nests are neat, compact cups of twigs, stems and lichen lined with grass and hair.
- House finch eggs are pale blue-white with brown spotting. Purple finch eggs tend to be whiter with dark brown spotting concentrated at the larger end.
Range and Distribution
The natural ranges and current distributions of house and purple finches differ as well:
- House finches are native to western North America but were introduced to the eastern U.S in the 1940s. They now occupy most of North America.
- Purple finches are native to eastern North America but their populations have expanded westward to occupy more overlap with house finches. They are rare on the West Coast.
- House finches are abundant permanent residents across much of their range. Purple finch populations are generally smaller and more sporadic, especially in winter when they may migrate out of northern areas of their range.
- On the West Coast, house finches greatly outnumber purple finches. The reverse is true in the East where purple finches are more prevalent than house finches, especially in the Northeast.
Tips for Telling Them Apart
When observing an unfamiliar finch, look for these key identification points:
- Extent of red on males – House finch red covers more of chest and throat. Purple finch red restricted to crown, rump and upper breast.
- Streaking patterns on females – Heavier streaking on underparts of female purple finches. Finer streaks on female house finches.
- Facial pattern on females – Distinct broad stripe behind eye of female purple finch. Plain face on female house finch.
- Bill shape – House finches have thicker, blunter bills. Purple finch bill more slender and pointed.
- Body size and shape – Purple finches larger, chunkier, front-heavy. House finches slimmer, tail-heavy.
- Behavior – House finches social, tolerant of people. Purple finches shy, avoid human disturbance.
- Flight style – House finches undulating, rapid flight. Purple finches slower, steadier with less undulation.
- Calls and songs – House finch songs end in downslurred notes, calls are blurred. Purple finch songs buzzier, trilled; soft buzzy call.
- Habitat – House finches occur in urban/suburban areas. Purple finches prefer more rural, woodland settings.
Attracting Both Species to Your Yard
Want to get a closer look at house and purple finches? Consider using these methods to attract them:
- Provide specialty finch feeders stocked with nyjer thistle seed. Also offer black oil sunflower seeds.
- Include nest boxes mounted 10-15 feet high in trees to give them nesting sites.
- Plant native trees and shrubs that produce seeds and berries they favor such as elm, birch, dogwood, serviceberry and sumac.
- Offer fresh water daily in a birdbath, fountain or ground tray. Position water sources near vegetation for cover.
- Avoid pesticide use which reduces their insect food sources.
- Limit mowing and pruning around nesting time to prevent disturbing nests.
- Set up a wildlife camera or blind to get great views of activity at your feeders.
With a bird-friendly habitat that meets their preferences, both finches may pay your yard a visit! Watch for the subtle ways house and purple finches differ as they stop by.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do house finches and purple finches look so similar?
House and purple finches share an overlapping range and similar ecological roles as seed-eating songbirds, likely leading to evolutionary convergence in appearances and behaviors. Their similarities may confer advantages in things like mate selection and avoiding predation within the habitats they occupy.
How do I tell a male house finch vs a purple finch?
Focus on the extent of red coloring. Male house finches have red extending down their throats and chests whereas purple finch red stops at the breast. House finch red may also appear streakier.
What is a fast way to identify a female house or purple finch?
Check for facial pattern. Female purple finches have a distinct broad stripe behind the eye and buffy stripe above the eye. Female house finches have plain, unmarked faces.
Do house and purple finches interbreed?
House and purple finches are distinct species and do not interbreed under normal circumstances. Rare hybrids have been documented where their ranges overlap heavily.
Should I report purple finch sightings?
Purple finches are uncommon in some regions, so reporting sightings helps biologists track populations. Contact your local birding or conservation organization to learn about submitting reports.
Conclusion
Distinguishing the house finch from the purple finch relies on noting several subtle differences in plumage, size, behavior, song and habitat preferences. With practice, bird enthusiasts can learn to readily differentiate these two species that play important ecological roles across North America. Providing suitable food, water, nest sites and cover will invite both finches into backyards where their varied traits can be observed and admired. Their splashy hues and active antics bring lively spirit to gardens that welcome them.