Purple Finch Is The Official State Bird Of New Hampshire. The purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus) was Adopted as the official New Hampshire State Bird in 1957. The selection of the purple finch as a National Bird Of New Hampshire was supported by the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs, and the State Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Among the small forest birds like chickadees, and nuthatches, Purple Finches are large and chunky. Their powerful, conical beaks are larger than many sparrows. The tail seems short and is clearly notched at the tip. The Color of Male Purple Finches is a delicate pink-red on the head and breast, mixing with brown on the back and cloudy white on the belly. New Hampshire State Bird Female Purple Finches have no red.
National Bird Of New Hampshire is coarsely streaked below, with strong facial markings including a whitish eyestripe and a dark line down the side of the throat. State Bird Of New Hampshire Purple Finches breeds mainly in coniferous forests or mixed deciduous and coniferous woods. During winter you can find State Bird Of New Hampshire Purple Finch in a wider variety of habitats, including shrublands, old fields, forest edges, and backyards. New Hampshire State Bird Purple finches typically forage high in trees and nest at heights of up to 60 feet (18 m). Their diet also includes buds, nectar (especially honeysuckle), berries (blackberries, juniper berries), and the seeds of fruit including crabapples, cherries, and apricots.
Identification
Length: 5.5 inches
Large, conical bill
Short, forked tail
Distinctive call note was often given in flight
- MALE
Purplish-red head, breast, back, and rump
Streaked back
White undertail coverts
Brown wings and tail
Immature male resembles female
- FEMALE
Brown crown and cheek patch contrasting with pale supercilium and malar streak
Heavily streaked underparts
Brown upperparts
Interesting Facts About Purple Finch
- The State Bird Of New Hampshire purple finches in the east have erratic migrations during autumn. Purple finches fly from the north to the south throughout most of their range with variable movements known as “biennial incursions.”
- The National Bird Of New Hampshire purple finch used to be a common resident in southern New England every summer. Now, it visits the state only during the winter.
- Purple finches appear every two years as far as south as northern Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. Researchers say that this movement of Purple finches is due to the variability in the food sources of birds.