Purple Finch

This picture was taken in our back yard on 20 April 2006. Purple Finches have declined in numbers when the non-native House Finch was introduced in 1940. The House Finches original territory was Southwestern United States and Mexico, but was introduced to Long Island in 1940 and quickly spread throughout the east. Fights between Purple and House Finches almost always end up with the House Finch being the victor.