Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Purple Finch
Scientific name:	Carpodacus purpureus
Date:	June 9, 2010
Time:	10:30am
Length of time observed:	5 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Backyard feeder station near the Blacksmith Fork River in Nibley, Utah
County:	Cache
Latilong:	41.643607, -111.81903
Elevation:	4600'
Distance to bird:	25'
Optical equipment:	Bushnell 10 x 50 binoculars
Weather:	Sunny & clear skies
Light Conditions:	Daylight, cloudless sky
Description: Size of bird:	About 6"
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Same as House Finch or Cassin's Finch
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Appeared to have been sprayed with rose-colored paint
(Description:) Bill Type:	Typical seed cracking bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	This colorful male joined a small mixed flock of House and Cassin's Finches that I was casually observing while snacking near my kitchen window. My mouth literally dropped open as I soon realized that I was observing a male Purple Finch. I grabbed my binoculars to verify my original identification and was positive at what I was witnessing. I quickly called my son and simply asked him to identify the completely rose-colored bird on the feeder. He went directly to the Red Finches page 343 of the Peterson Field Guide for Western Birds and immediately pointed to the Purple Finch. I asked him to double check his identification. He did and said without a doubt it was a Purple Finch. He was confused at my insistence that he double check until I showed him the Range Map which illustrated that they do not normally inhabit Northern Utah valleys. After the initial shock wore off, I ran to get my camera and telephoto lens, but the bird left before I could take a photograph. I have hesitated reporting this for fear of disbelief until the President of our local Audubon Chapter saw two Purple Finches at his feeders today. Check with Val Grant at biores@mtwest.net
Song or call & method of delivery:	No song or call
Behavior:	House Finches and Cassin's Finches were at the feeder eating black sunflower seeds. This male with unusual coloring flew in from the south, landed on a nearby branch, then proceeded to the feeder displacing a female House Finch. He fed for only a few minutes, barely enough time for me to call to my son to have him give an independent species identification.
Habitat:	Bird feeders located against thick shrubs 10' high, and surrounded by cottonwood trees along a canal of the Blacksmith Fork River.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	House Finches: Brown back/wings/tail and red stripe above the eye. There were several males and females present. Cassin's Finches: Similar to the House Finches except sporting what resembles a butch-sytle haircut on their crown. There were also a few Cassin's Finches present.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I am a member of the Board of Trustees of the local Audubon, I taught high school AP Environmental Science and Biology/Earth Systems science for 20 years, I was a member of the Advisory Committee for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
References consulted:	Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Ron Hellstern
Observer's address:	4766 Hollow Road Nibley, Utah 84321
Observer's e-mail address:	redrockron@gmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Parker Hellstern - 21 years old, 3 times Utah State Envirothon Champion
Date prepared:	June 24, 2011
Additional material:
Additional_Comments:	Since I had no photographic record of this sighting, I hesitated to report it for fear of ridicule. Now, since the local Audubon president said he also saw two Purple Finches today I agreed to submit my sighting to your committee.