purple finch

noun

: a finch (Haemorhous purpureus) of the U.S. and Canada having in the male a rosy-red head, breast, and rump

Examples of purple finch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This winter drive is located within the Atlantic Flyway, so keep an eye out for overwintering dark-eyed juncos, evening grosbeaks, and purple finches. Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023 This has led to population booms in evening grosbeak, purple finch, and to a lesser extent, pine siskin and other finches, the authors said. Star Tribune, 22 Dec. 2020 Being seen are representatives from eight finch species: pine siskin, common redpoll, hoary redpoll, purple finch, pine grosbeak, evening grosbeak, red crossbill, and white-winged crossbill, plus red-breasted nuthatch. Star Tribune, 22 Dec. 2020 Among other things, at the lower end of global warming, many state birds — including Minnesota’s loon and New Hampshire’s purple finch — would be more likely to maintain at least a fraction of their current range in their states. New York Times, 10 Oct. 2019 It was first observed in house finches in 1994, and the disease has spread to American goldfinches, evening grosbeaks and purple finches. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 17 June 2019 Hi, purple finches, and welcome back to another occasional edition of This Week in Timothée Chalamet. Cady Drell, Marie Claire, 22 Mar. 2019 At Parker River National Wildlife Refuge there was a brant, four least bitterns, a little blue heron, a glossy ibis, and five purple finches. BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2018 Or, search for purple finches and nesting dark-eyed juncos at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland. James F. McCarty, cleveland.com, 9 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purple finch was in 1731

Dictionary Entries Near purple finch

Cite this Entry

“Purple finch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple%20finch. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!