FINCHES 



British Coluinbiii to southern CaHfornia, cast 

 to the Casca(h\s and Sierra Nevadas. 



The CaHfornia purj>le finch is one ot* the 

 characteristic western birds, found every- 

 where from the mountains to the sea. It is 

 common in the valleys about the farms and 

 comes freely into the cities to nest in the 

 parks and dooryards. When singing its very 

 finely lodulated warble its favorite perch is 

 the tip of the leader of fir or hemlock. Its 

 song is one of the finest of the family, a clear 

 loud warble of several notes, with many 

 variations, but always unmistakable. Its 

 call note is a plaintive dear-ie. 



In the central valleys of Washington and 

 Oregon the purple finch usually builds its frail 

 nest in maple or alder trees, while in Califor- 

 nia it seems to go to the mountains to build 

 in pine or fir. 



The food of the purple finch consists of 

 various insects, beetles and grasshoppers, to- 

 gether with tender leaf and fruit buds and 

 })erries, both wild and cultivated. It is 

 often found along roadsides in company with 

 goldfinches and pine siskins, picking at the 

 dandelion and thistle heads; and in the fall 

 it resorts to the dogwood in company with 

 robins, tanagers and thrushes to feed on the 

 berries. 



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