Purple Finch in Homer
Male Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus, Homer, 21 March 2012.
The winter of rarities in southcoastal Alaska keeps getting better and better! This Purple Finch has been attending a feeder in Homer since 12 February 2012, but was only just identified. The species is casual in southcoastal Alaska. This is approximately the 5th record for Homer since the first, a male at a feeder, 10 February-29 March 1985 (West and Bailey 1986). In the last photo note the clean undertail coverts which lack any streaking.
- West, G. C., and E. P. Bailey. 1986. Rustic Bunting, Purple Finch, and Cassin’s Finch in south coastal Alaska. Murrelet 67:32.
UPDATE: The Purple Finch continued at the feeder daily until it was last seen on 29 March 2012.
