PURPLE FINCHES 423 



Cassin Purple Finch. Carpodacus cassini Baird 



Field characters. — Slightly larger than Junco or California Purple Finch; tail with 

 decided notch at end. Male: Crown bright crimson, breast and rump pale pink; upper 

 surface of body suffused with reddish. Streaks of brown on back but none on belly. 

 (See pi. 7a, h.) Female: Upper surface dark brown, without any greenish tinge; under 

 surface whitish streaked with brown; no prominent spot on chest. Voice: Male has a 

 clear song, resembling that of California Linnet yet different; both sexes have a single- 

 syllabled call note. 



Occurrence. — Common resident of Canadian and Hudsonian zones on both slopes 

 of Sierra Nevada; recorded from Hazel Green and Pinoche Peak ridge (west of Chin- 

 quapin) eastward to Williams Butte and Mono Mills. Casual in winter at Smith Creek, 

 6 miles east of Coulterville. Once observed in Yosemite Valley, November 16, 191.5. 

 Frequents tops of forest trees and also open ground beneath. Seen singly, in pairs, 

 or in small flocks. 



The Cassin Purple Finch is the largest of the three red-headed finches, 

 and its range is the uppermost. It is a hardy species, adapted to life 

 in a rigorous climate; for it is resident in its boreal habitat throughout 

 the year and drops to lower levels only individually and rarely. In the 

 Yosemite region it is to be found commonly above the range of the Cali- 

 fornia Purple Finch, that is, throughout the "high Sierras." One is 

 sure to meet with it upon attaining the rim of Yosemite Valley, as at 

 Glacier Point or above Yosemite Falls. 



The Cassin Purple Finch is somewhat larger than either the California 

 Purple Finch or the California Linnet and it differs somewhat in coloration 

 from those species. (See pi. 7.) In the male Cassin the top of the head 

 is bright crimson whereas the breast and rump are much lighter, being 

 a pale pink. The female is likewise paler toned, the ground color of her 

 under surface being whitish and her upper surface lacking entirely the 

 greenish tinge of the California Purple Finch. The male Cassin Purple 

 Finch requires more than one year (probably two) to acquire the red 

 plumage, although it probably breeds while still in the dull plumage. 



The song of the Cassin Purple Finch is more varied than that of either 

 the California Purple Finch or the linnet, yet it reminds one strongly 

 of the linnet's song. There are full rounded notes and also some 'squeals' 

 like those in the song of the linnet. 



At Hazel Green early on the morning of May 14, 1919, we found a 

 number of Cassin Purple Finches foraging in company with several Sierra 

 Crossbills and a few California Evening Grosbeaks. The object of attrac- 

 tion for this mixed assemblage was a pile of chaff on the east side of an 

 old stage barn. By stationing ourselves inside the barn we were able 

 to watch the birds at close range. In the flock were about twelve of the 

 present species, two of them old males in red plumage, the rest in the 



