First up, very special pictures of what may be the first ever BirdingPI.com coverage of Purple Finch in Erie County, PA! (Much less common than House Finch.) Taken recently at West Road Elk Creek access.
ID tip: typical finch features w/ an overall red-purple/raspberry wash.
Also exciting, amazing Purple Martin “in the wild.” Meaning not at or around a Purple Martin house. These pictures from the swampy area near the east Long Pond Trail trailhead.
Following are alternating Purple Finch & Purple Martin:
It wouldn’t be complete coverage without a comparison to House Finch. Following shots are of beautiful males in Millcreek Twp (“Gateway to Presque Isle”). Note the similar features but much less extensive red-purple colour:
Such crisp photos! We have finches visiting our porch feeder, but I’ve never seen such a nice photo of a purple finch as these (-:
Thanks for commenting! House Finches are much more common here; Purple Finch, if seen at all, usually up in a tree or otherwise far away. Lucky to get these reasonably close shots.