Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2021-15
| Common name: |
Purple Finch |
| Scientific name: | Haemorhouus purpureus |
| Date: | 9 Mar 2021 |
| Time: | 9:55 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 20 minutes |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | Adult |
| Sex: | Male |
| Location: | Yard in Provo |
| County: | Utah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | ~4835 ft. |
| Distance to bird: | 12 to 25 ft |
| Optical equipment: | 8 x 42 binoculars |
| Weather: | cloudy, about 40 degrees |
| Light Conditions: | overcast, but fairly light |
| Description: Size of bird: | medium sized finch |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | finch |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | red and brown on the upper parts and, red and white underneath |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | triangular |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
The raspberry red on the top of the head extended down the back of the head, to
the neck, through the brown stripes on the back, down to the rump. There was no
white eye ring. The red on the throat and upper chest was the same red color as
the top of the head. The streaking on the flanks was red and brownish and the undertail coverts were white with no streaks. The bill was fairly straight
but there was slight down curve at the very tip. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | It was drinking at the bird bath when I first saw it, then it when to the seed feeder and ate some sunflower seeds and then went into the apple tree where it was less active. |
| Habitat: | Back yard with quite a few trees, wild rose bushes and varied foliage. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
A House Finch would have had brown/gray on the top of the head with an orange
red visor, a more curved culmen and gray streaks on the belly and
undertail coverts. A Cassin's Finch would have had a white eye ring, a straighter longer bill, light pinkish on the throat and breast rather than darker red, and would have had gray streaks on the undertail coverts. The red on the top of the head would have been more restricted to the top and front of the head. There would have been more of a crest rather than a rounded head.. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I've seen them in Michigan. |
| References consulted: | Sibleys, second edition and Nat. Geographic field guide. |
| Description from: | Memory and photos taken at the time of the sighting. |
| Observer: | Milton Glen Moody |
| Observer's address: | Provo, Utah |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None |
| Date prepared: | 3/9/2021 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: |