Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), Aspen Springs, Prescott National Forest, Yavapai County

This Purple Finch was found and photographed by Bryan Patrick on 23 October 2017.

Along with this male a female was also seen.

Casual and irregular fall and winter visitor to Arizona. Historically more frequent in small numbers, but still casual. Interestingly, it has been documented in Arizona the past four falls/winters, with the strongest movement into the state in several decades occurring in 2015/16. Purple Finch were observed at this location in November 2015 and 2016 and again in February 2017.

Separated from House and Cassin's Finches by the rounded culmen, short primary projection, even reddish color throughout (especially on the face and onto the flanks), the strong face pattern and blurry flank streaks. The long brown blurry flank streaking, brown on the sides of the cest and lack of pale tips to the greater coverts identify this as the western subspecies californicus

23 October 2017, photo by Bryan Patrick

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