Birds of the Lower Ohio River Valley in West Virginia

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FINCHES, CROSSBILLS, REDPOLLS, SISKIN, GOLDFINCH, EVENING GROSBEAK

Purple Finch  Carpodacus purpureus

WINTER:  Fairly Common Resident.  See Remarks section for CBC data.

SUMMER:  Casual Visitant.  Edeburn et al. (1960) cites a record on 05 July 1960 at Huntington, Cabell Co., WV.  There are also early June records in the 1960's from Wayne Co., WV (RS) (Slack 1967).  Male (HY or SY) banded (LW) on 18 June 1980 at Ona, Cabell Co., WV (Kiff et al. 1986). 

MIGRATION:

 Spring:  Fairly Common Migrant from early April to early May.  Late dates, 23 May 1942 (Edeburn et al. 1960); 14 May 1978 (HS).

 Fall:  Fairly Common Migrant from late October to mid-November.  Early dates, 06 October 1974 (HS); 13 October 2007 (LWC); 14 October 2007 (GR); 21 October 2007 (GR); 20 October 1969 (HS).

REMARKS:

Winter:  Kiff et al. (1986) suggested this species may be declining in winter as the House Finch population increases.  Of note, the Purple Finch was last recorded on the Huntington CBC in 1995.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATA

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Recorded on 70% of Counts.  Total Birds:  925.  Range:  1 to 75.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 2001):  Recorded on 50% of Counts.  Total Birds:    31.  Range:  1 to   8.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Recorded on 70% of Counts.  Total Birds:  491.  Range:  1 to 94.

Huntington, WV (1940 to 2001):        Number of Counts:  61.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:    3.3.
Mason County, WV (1953 to 1976):  Number of Counts:  18.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:  11.4.
Ona, WV (1962 to 2001):                  Number of Counts:  40.  Birds/Party Hr.:  <1.0.  Party Hr./Bird:    3.7.