EASTERN PURPLE FINCH 275 



The migration route is usually from north to south, but Frederick 

 C. Lincoln (1939) says that "banding studies have demonstrated that 

 in addition to the normal north-and-south journeys there is also an 

 east-and-west movement, since birds banded in Michigan have been 

 subsequently recaptured at banding stations in New England." 



Winter. — Most of us in New England have recently come to regard 

 the purple finch as mainly a winter visitor since it has ceased to be a 

 common summer resident here. We cannot always count on seeing 

 it, as its visits are somewhat uncertain, being abundant some winters 

 and scarce or entirely absent in others. When it does come, we 

 welcome the little bands of rosy-colored males and striped females 

 that flock to oiu" feeding shelves, quarreling among themselves for 

 the sunflower seeds and other food. 



On rare occasions they have come in such large numbers as to be 

 referred to as invasions. Such a visitation is described by Richard 

 Lee Weaver (1940) as follows: 



In the winter and spring of 1939, January to May, an unusual invasion of 

 Purple Finches {Carpodacus purpureus purpureus) occurred throughout the north- 

 eastern United States and the Maritime Provinces. * * * Hundreds, and in 

 many places thousands, of the birds congregated and fed on weed seeds and buds, 

 or on grain supplied at many feeding stations. Sunflower seed was preferred to 

 most other foods, and thousands of pounds of it were consumed. In one small 

 town, over one thousand pounds of the seed were sold in one week during the 

 invasion. 



In the seven years prior to 1939, an average of 4,700 Purple Finches were 

 banded throughout the country. In 1939 there were 21,592 birds banded. 

 * * * Each of six or seven banders was responsible for banding over one thousand 

 of the birds. Several people banded almost two thousand. 



During their stay with us in New England, they are sometimes 

 seen roving over the open country with flocks of siskins or goldfinches, 

 feeding on weed seeds, wild fruits, buds, catkins, and such seeds as 

 remain on the trees. But, where they are encouraged to do so, they 

 congregate about our houses and grounds, where they can find food. 

 They are hardy birds and can Uve through severe winter weather if 

 well fed. 



Forbush (1929) says: "They bathe in brooks with the temperature 

 below freezing point and some have been known to sing in the clearing 

 weather directly after a blizzard. Nevertheless a few are overcome 

 by starvation and cold, as occasionally one has been picked up from 

 the snow helpless or dead. * * * Purple Finches spend winter 

 nights in dense evergreen trees or thickets, or even in some open 

 buildings or under the shelter of a cupola roof." 



They wander as far south in winter as Louisiana and northern 

 Florida. Arthur T. Wayne (1910) says that, in wSouth Carolina, they 

 "inhabit only forests which are of a deciduous growth and feed upon 



646-737-— 68— pt. 1 20 



