The bubbly warble of this finch is common in western Oregon conifer forests in summer, while its Crossbill-like - but more delicate - pik call is heard in lowland valleys in the winter. Adult males have a distinctly reddish-colored head, face, rump, throat, and breast, broadly but very faintly streaked brownish-pink sides, and a diffused brownish-red nape, back, and wings. Females and immature males have brownish-olive upperparts, wings, and tail, with contrasting streaking. Underparts are buffy-white to off-white with fuzzy, brownish streaking; a dingy pale gray stripe is present above the eye.

In Oregon, the Purple finch breeds west of the Cascades from the Umpqua region southward to Jackson County. It is a fairly common transient and summer resident and winter visitant on the west slope of the Cascades and westward.

Hear the song of the Purple finch

Photo by Charlotte Ganskopp