Verification of Unusual Sight Record
For Utah

Rec. # 2011-32


Common name:

Purple Finch

Scientific name: Carpodacus purpureus
Date: June 9, 2010
Time: 10:30am
Length of time observed: 5 minutes
Number: 1
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
Location: Backyard feeder station near the Blacksmith Fork River in Nibley, Utah
County: Cache
Latilong: 41.643607, -111.81903
Elevation: 4600'
Distance to bird: 25'
Optical equipment: Bushnell 10 x 50 binoculars
Weather: Sunny & clear skies
Light Conditions: Daylight, cloudless sky
Description:        Size of bird: About 6"
(Description:)       Basic Shape: Same as House Finch or Cassin's Finch
(Description:)  Overall Pattern: Appeared to have been sprayed with rose-colored paint
(Description:)            Bill Type: Typical seed cracking bill
(Description:)                              
Field Marks and
Identifying Characteristics:
This colorful male joined a small mixed flock of House and Cassin's Finches that I was casually observing while snacking near my kitchen window. My mouth literally dropped open as I soon realized that I was observing a male Purple Finch. I grabbed my binoculars to verify my original identification and was positive at what I was witnessing. I quickly called my son and simply asked him to identify the completely rose-colored bird on the feeder. He went directly to the Red Finches page 343 of the Peterson Field Guide for Western Birds and immediately pointed to the Purple Finch. I asked him to double check his identification. He did and said without a doubt it was a Purple Finch. He was confused at my insistence that he double check until I showed him the Range Map which illustrated that they do not normally inhabit Northern Utah valleys. After the initial shock wore off, I ran to get my camera and telephoto lens, but the bird left before I could take a photograph. I have hesitated reporting this for fear of disbelief until the President of our local Audubon Chapter saw two Purple Finches at his feeders today.
Check with Val Grant at biores@mtwest.net
Song or call & method of delivery: No song or call
Behavior: House Finches and Cassin's Finches were at the feeder eating black sunflower seeds. This male with unusual coloring flew in from the south, landed on a nearby branch, then proceeded to the feeder displacing a female House Finch. He fed for only a few minutes, barely enough time for me to call to my son to have him give an independent species identification.
Habitat: Bird feeders located against thick shrubs 10' high, and surrounded by cottonwood trees along a canal of the Blacksmith Fork River.
Similar species and how
were they eliminated:
House Finches: Brown back/wings/tail and red stripe above the eye.
There were several males and females present.

Cassin's Finches: Similar to the House Finches except sporting what resembles a butch-sytle haircut on their crown. There were also a few Cassin's Finches present.

Previous experience with
this & similar species:
I am a member of the Board of Trustees of the local Audubon,
I taught high school AP Environmental Science and Biology/Earth Systems science for 20 years, I was a member of the Advisory Committee for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
References consulted: Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds
Description from: Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer: Ron Hellstern
Observer's address: 4766 Hollow Road Nibley, Utah 84321
Observer's e-mail address:  redrockron@gmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird: Parker Hellstern - 21 years old, 3 times Utah State Envirothon Champion
Date prepared: June 24, 2011
Additional material:  
Additional_Comments: Since I had no photographic record of this sighting, I hesitated to report it for fear of ridicule. Now, since the local Audubon president said he also saw two Purple Finches today I agreed to submit my sighting to your committee.