Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 569 



Genus CARPODACUS Kaup. 



236. Carpodacus purpureas (Gmel.). 

 Purple Finch. 



Distr. : North America, from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky 

 Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to British Columbia, northern 

 Quebec, and Labrador. Breeds regularly in coniferous trees from 

 northern Wisconsin northward. 



Adult male: Tail, very slightly forked; general plumage, more or 

 less rose red, deeper red on the head, and mixed with brown on the 



back; throat and breast, rose red, shad- 

 ing to white on the belly; wings and 

 tail, dark brown, with narrow pale edg- 

 ings. 

 v^^~ Adult female : Upper plumage, dark 



^^ brown, streaked with dusky brown; 



^^"^ under parts, white, streaked irregularly 



^^ with dark brown; rump, more or less 



Purple Finch. tinged with dull olive. 



The female of this species may be distinguished from other spar- 

 rows and finches by the slightly forked tail and the small tufts of 

 feathers over the nostril. 



Length, 5.75 to 6; wing, 2.90 to 3.25; tail, 2.35; bill, .40. 

 This handsome species is a common migrant in spring and fall in 

 Illinois and a not uncommon winter resident, especially in the south- 

 ern part of the state. Authentic breeding records for Illinois are 

 very rare. In 1876 Nelson included it in his Birds of northeastern 

 Illinois as "A common winter resident, a few breed." Mr. Frank 

 M. Woodruff considers it "i\.n irregular migrant and a not uncommon 

 winter resident." Mr. W. W. Cook states: " It breeds regularly from 

 northern Minnesota and Dakota northward, but has also been found 

 breeding in northern Illinois. Mr. Kline has taken one set of eggs 

 at Polo, Illinois." (Bird Migration Mississippi Valley, 1888, p. 179.) 

 Nehrling states that it has been taken at Waukegan, 111., during the 

 breeding season, (Our Native Birds, etc., 1896, p. 29), and there is 

 an egg in the Thomas H. Douglass collection at Waukegan, labelled 

 as having been collected by him in that locality on May 13, 1875. 



In Wisconsin Messrs. Kumlien and Hollister consider it a more or 

 less common migrant in spring and fall and state they have observed 

 it in summer; but give no definite nesting records of their own. Dr. 

 Hoy found it breeding near Racine about 1850, and F. L. Grundtvig 



