For a start, they have very different behavior and one spends all of it’s time in a flock while the other doesn’t. There are also some distinctive differences in their color patterns, as well as the shape of their beaks and tails. But that’s not all, as there’s much more to learn about these beautiful finches. So join us as we discover all of the differences between a house finch vs a purple finch.
Comparing House Finch vs Purple Finch
House finches and purple finches are both favorites amongst people with bird feeders in their backyards, and telling the two apart can be quite tricky. Although house finches and purple finches are both characterized by their bright red plumage, there are some distinctive markings which make them easier to tell apart. If you get the chance to observe both species, then there are actually several noticeable differences between the two. Check out the chart below to learn a few of the main differences between house finch vs purple finch.
The 5 Key Differences Between House Finches and Purple Finches
House Finch vs Purple Finch: Size
One of the differences between house finches and purple finches is size. Purple finches are slightly larger than house finches and have a wingspan of up to 10 inches. Their bodies are stocky and they generally have a larger head and neck in proportion to their bodies. Purple finches are 4.5 to 6.3 inches long, while their weight ranges between 0.6 and 1.1 ounces. House finches are slightly smaller and have a wingspan of up to 9.5 inches. Their bodies are smaller and thinner than purple finches. House finches are 5 to 6 inches long and weigh between 0.5 and 0.95 ounces.
House Finch vs Purple Finch: Habitat
Although their range does overlap, generally, house finches and purple finches prefer different habitats. House finches live in urban and suburban areas as well as deserts, coniferous forests, grasslands, and stream sides. Purple finches prefer areas that are less populated, so they are far less likely to be found in urban areas compared to house finches. Purple finches generally live in coniferous and mixed forests. However, in areas where their range overlaps with house finches, purple finches lose out around 90% of the time to them. Their population has actually declined sharply in the east due to this competition.
House Finch vs Purple Finch: Bill
Although both house finches and purple finches are predominantly herbivorous seed eaters, they actually have quite different bills. House finches have a small bill with a distinctive curve on the upper mandible which gives it a bulbous shape, while purple finches have a much longer and straighter bill. As it doesn’t have a curve on the upper section, it appears to be a more triangular shape.
House Finch vs Purple Finch: Color
You’d easily be forgiven for thinking that purple finches are purple in color, but they’re actually not. Instead, males are dark red throughout with a red head and brownish wings, while females are brown with white streaks throughout their body. However, it is their face which is most distinctive as they have noticeable white marks above their eyes. Male house finches also have red plumage but it is mainly confined to their breast, forehead, and throat. Throughout the rest of their body, they have a brown back with lighter streaks which blur the two colors. They also have grey cheeks. Female house finches are grayish brown with blurred streaks on their underside. Their head is plain and has no distinctive markings.
House Finch vs Purple Finch: Behavior
Purple finches and house finches also have vast different behavior. House finches are social birds and are not territorial. They almost always are found in flocks which can range from a few birds up to several hundred. House finches even stick together when nesting too as the flock tends to nest close together. However, within these flocks, house finches exhibit hierarchical behavior with the females being dominant over the males. In a complete contrast to house finches, purple finches are are only found in flocks during the winter and are territorial and solitary throughout the rest of the year. During the winter, they can be found in flocks of up to 200 birds consisting of not just purple finches, but several other finch species too. However, once breeding season comes around they become extremely territorial. Therefore, purple finches are usually alone or in a pair for the rest of the year. Are house finches and purple finches from the same family group? Yes, both house and purple finches are from the family group Fringillidae which are true finches. They are also from the same genus – Haemorhous – which is the American rosefinches. As the name suggests, American rosefinches are characterized by their red plumage and are found across North America. The only members of this genus are house finches, purple finches, and Cassin’s finches. Do house finches and purple finches migrate? Purple finches are migratory birds and travel during the winter, which is when they live in large flocks. House finches are a bit different as only some of them migrate. Migration depends on where they live – house finches in the east don’t migrate, but house finches in the west migrate south during the winter. Are house finches and purple finches considered to be endangered? No, both species are not under threat and are considered to be “least concern”.
