Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is in the Finches, Euphonias, and Allies family (Fringillidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 22,874 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Purple Finch: observations by month (U.S.)
About Purple Finch
The purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Purple Finch by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,132 | March | Oct–Jul |
| Oregon | 1,950 | April | Jan–Aug |
| Washington | 1,172 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New York | 1,093 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 1,088 | April | Feb–Jun |
| Minnesota | 1,014 | April | Jan–May |
| Texas | 865 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Pennsylvania | 824 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 813 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 810 | February | Oct–Apr |
| North Carolina | 712 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Maine | 642 | May | Mar–Aug |
| Illinois | 589 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 562 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Ohio | 561 | April | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 560 | April | Apr–Jul |
| New Hampshire | 493 | April | Jan–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 492 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 433 | January | Dec–Apr |
| Alabama | 419 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Georgia | 395 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Carolina | 360 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 346 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 311 | January | Nov–Mar |
| New Jersey | 291 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Louisiana | 215 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Kentucky | 213 | February | Nov–Apr |
| Connecticut | 179 | October | Oct–Dec |
| Indiana | 177 | April | Dec–Apr |
| Mississippi | 177 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Oklahoma | 171 | January | Nov–Mar |
| West Virginia | 151 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Delaware | 137 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Kansas | 84 | December | Dec–Apr |
| Iowa | 79 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Florida | 74 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Alaska | 54 | November | Nov–Feb |
| South Dakota | 52 | December | Oct–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 40 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Dakota | 33 | January | Nov–Jun |
| Arizona | 26 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Rhode Island | 24 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 21 | March | Oct–Mar |
| Nevada | 12 | March | Oct–Mar |
| Idaho | 10 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Colorado | 8 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Montana | 6 | March | Mar–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak
Red Crossbill
Cassin's Finch
Redpoll
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Purple Finch?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from October to June.
Where is Purple Finch most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.