Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Purple Finch
Scientific name:	Haemorhous purpureus
Date:	09-27-2023
Time:	About 10:00 AM
Length of time observed:	About 4 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Access road to lytle Ranch--abouts 3 miles from ranch
County:	Washington
Latilong:	unknown
Elevation:	unknown
Distance to bird:	estimated at 50 feet
Optical equipment:	12X32 Canon IS Binocular
Weather:	Clear with no wind
Light Conditions:	Excellent viewing with clear skies
Description: Size of bird:	abouts 6 inches
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Finch
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Reddish
(Description:) Bill Type:	Heavy finch bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Male. Great View. Sat atop two different shrubs. Singing finch song (I could not separate the song from that of the house finch). Clearly similar to numerous observations of house finches. But with Unmistakeable rosy red on head and chest. Obviously not a house finch.
Song or call & method of delivery:	No audio calling was needed or used.
Behavior:	Perched on two different shrubs.
Habitat:	Mojave desert within a moderate stand of Joshua trees
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Separated by house and Cassie's finches by extensive rosy-red especially on head and most of breast. Tail slightly forked and wings a little reddish also. No red crown as in Cassin's. Lacked streaking on breast as in house and much redder and much more extensive.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Numerous observations of house and cassin's finches. A single observation of a purple finch in Grantsville with my brother as seen on his feeders
References consulted:	Field Guides--Sibley, Peterson, National Geographic
Description from:
Observer:	Dennis D. Austin
Observer's address:	43 S 700 E. Hyrum, Utah. 84319
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	none
Date prepared:	12-01-2023
Additional material:
Additional comments:	Listed as OW occasional-winter on the lytle ranch bird list. Please see my e-bird description for 09-27-2023. Clear and certain identification. The photo in ABA 55-7 page 25 was nearly identical to the bird I observed.