How to Identify House Finches vs. Purple Finches?

How to Identify House Finches vs. Purple Finches?

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[CharlieB]

What a great job you did showing the differences in both of these birds, female and male, House and Purple. This helps me so much!

[tomtalker]

The Purple finch males also have a more prominent slight crest too their crowns. Where as House Finches heads/crowns are flat and smooth.

[dar]

Always hard for me to distinguish, your clip really gave a good look at the difference. I thank you.

[timsmith]

Thank you so much- very helpful. Where I live, the Purple Finch is much less common, but I will keep a close eye out for them, particularly in winter.

[tomtalker]

Female Purple Finches can also be confused with female Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. But the Grosbeak's are much thicker and larger bodied nearly Cardinal sized. I've been in the avian field now for nearly 40yrs having "hands on" experience. With everything from Warblers to Birds of Prey.

[sharonware]

Excellent video. Very helpful. Thank you.

[shirleygarrison]

Thanks so much! That helped a lot. I’ve been having purple finch visitors ;)

[kellyway]

Thank you, very helpful. I just started having one at our feeder and was confused about it. Now I'm all sorted out. ☺🐦

[terrilynnallen]

Thank you so much. I finally know the difference.

[yolandaniemoller]

thank you for the excellent descriptions

[AZ-JKUR-HR]

Thanks. I have so many of all these at my feeders. Now to memorize it!!! Lol

[poolpam]

Thank you for producing this comprehensive tutorial

[tomtalker]

It's really not that confusing. Purple finches are stockier overall compared too House Finches. And the females have more white and brown barring on the chest. House Finch males are more red in color sometimes even with an orange colored cap. And Purple Finch males are truly a deep raspberry color. The Purples beaks are also thicker. So for new birders i would say if you see a truly raspberry colored finch with a stock build and beak it's more than likely a Purple Finch. If you see a smaller bodied more red to orange colored bird with the coloring on the crown it's likely a House Finch.

[erikaerika]

wow, , so hard, ,i have several and I guess I have both, ,, i tho i had a song sparrow, ,so i dont .... haha, , ,

[colorboxsalon]

I love your adventurous spirit, but maybe, might be a good idea to wear a mask when you go into those old buildings… because, hantu virus!