House Finch vs Purple Finch: 5 Key Differences Explained

House finches and Purple finches are both small birds native to North America. They are easily confused because of their stunning red-brown plumage. Their names could be meant to distinguish them, but they do not. Purple finches don’t exist, and house finches can be found around houses. Don’t worry, and some key differences make it easy to distinguish them once you know what you’re looking at.

They have very different behaviours. One spends most of its time in a flock, while the other does not. Their colour patterns and the shapes of their tails, beaks, and tails are all distinctive. There’s more to this beautiful bird than that. Join us as we explore the differences between purple and house finches.

Comparing Purple Finch vs House Finch

People with bird feeders in their yards love purple finches and house finches. It can be difficult to tell the difference. While purple and house finches have bright red plumage, they are easily distinguished by distinctive markings. There are many differences between these two species if you have the opportunity to see them both.

The 5 Key Differences between Purple Finches and House Finches

House Finch vs Purple Finch: Size

The size difference between house finches and violet finches is one of their main differences. Purple finches can grow up to 10 inches in length and are slightly larger than house finches. Their bodies are bulky, and their heads and necks are larger than their bodies. Their length is 4.5 to 6 inches, and their weight is between 0.6 and 1 ounce.

The wingspan of house finches is up to 9.9 inches. They are slightly smaller than the purple finches. Their bodies are shorter and thinner than those of purple finches. They are approximately 5-6 inches long and weigh between 0.95 and 0.95 ounces.

House Finch vs Purple Finch: Habitat

Although they share a range, purple and house finches prefer different habitats. Urban and suburban house finches can be found in deserts and coniferous woods, grasslands and streams.

Purple finches are more attracted to areas with less population than house finches. The habitats of purple finches are coniferous and mixed forests. Purple finches are less likely to be found in areas that overlap with the ranges of house finches. This competition has caused a sharp decline in their population to the east.

House Finch vs Purple Finch: Bill

While both purple and house finches are seed eaters and herbivorous herbivores, they have very different bills. Purple finches have a longer, straighter bill. House finches have an unusual curve at the top of their bill, giving them a bulbous appearance. It appears more triangular because it does not have a curve at the top.

House Finch vs Purple Finch: Color

It’s easy to believe that purple finches are violet-coloured mistakenly. Males are dark red with a reddish head and brownish wings. Females are brown with white streaks all over their bodies. Their most distinguishing feature is their faces, visible white marks above the eyes.

Red plumage is also seen in male house finches, but it is mostly restricted to their throat, forehead, breast and stomach. They have a brown back with lighter streaks that blur the lines. Their cheeks are also grey. The female house finches are greyish brown and have blurred streaks underside. Their heads are plain and lack any distinctive markings.

House Finch vs Purple Finch: Behavior

House finches are social birds and can be found in large flocks of hundreds all year.

House finches and purple finches have very different behaviours. House finches are social birds and not territorial. They are almost always found in large flocks, including several hundred birds. Because the nests are often close together, house finches can even stick together while nesting. House finches can be seen to exhibit hierarchical behaviour within flocks. The males are dominant, and the females are the most dominant.

Contrary to house finches, purple finches are found only in small groups during winter. They are territorial and solitary all year. They can be found in large flocks up to 200 birds during winter. This includes not only purple finches but also several other finch species. They become territorial once the breeding season arrives. Purple finches can be found alone or with a partner for the remainder of the year.