![]() The brown streaks on the breast and flanks are blurry and grayish on house finches versus clear, brown streaks against a white background for purple finches. Female purple finches have relatively bold, brown and white head patterns while female house finches have plain, brown heads. Females are also difficult to distinguish, but there are slight differences in coloration. The most distinguishing features are the flanks: house finches have brown-streaked flanks, whereas purple finches have reddish flanks. Regardless, there is significant variation in coloration among individuals and this is not always a reliable identification characteristic. It is often said that purple finch males look as though they have been dunked in raspberry jam. Where purple finch males are red nearly all over their bodies, house finches have less extensive red coloration that is concentrated on the crown, throat, breast and rump. This species is often confused with house finches. Juveniles of both sexes are nearly identical to adult females, and males may not develop full adult red plumage until after their first year. Like many finches, purple finches have deeply notched tails that are visible in flight. Their backs are streaked with two tones of brown. As in the males, females' bellies and undertail coverts are white. Throats are white, and the breast features short, brown streaks that extend into the belly and flanks. Below this patch, there is a thick, white mustache stripe followed by a dark brown malar stripe. A brown patch extends from their eye down to cover their ears. Their crowns are brown and are bordered by thick, white eyebrow stripes. Females are overall brown, and have a bold brown and white pattern on their heads. Bellies and undertail coverts are unmarked white. Wing and tail feathers are brown, but may also be tinted red. Males have red on their heads, backs, throats, breast, flanks, and rumps. ![]() Their bills are conical, pointed, and well-adapted for cracking open seeds. Purple finches are medium-sized finches that measure 15.2 cm in length, weigh 25 g, and have a 25.4 cm wingspan.
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