purple finch

noun

1. a North American finch, Carpodacus purpureus, having a raspberry-red head, breast, and rump.

Word History and Origins

Origin of purple finch¹

An Americanism dating back to 1720–30

Example Sentences

To do that, he needed first to accurately describe birds’ color, from the vibrant reddish orange of an American robin’s breast to the wine reds of the purple finch.

From National Geographic

For example, the house finch almost always dominates the purple finch, and the purple finch almost always dominates the dark-eyed junco, but when house finch and junco face off directly, the junco often dominates.

From Seattle Times

Or maybe they were purple finches; I find birds so much more difficult to identify than a stationary perennial.

From Seattle Times

A purple finch flew from a holly tree and landed atop the bird feeder, which dangled from a wire attached to a pole.

From Washington Post

The image of a bull moose beat out a purple finch, a covered bridge and a maple tree and sap bucket for the plate’s design.

From Washington Times