By Sally Siko

t’s been so hot this summer which has got me feeling nostalgic for wintertime and all of the birds that arrive to spend the cooler months here in NC.
So, I’ve been going through my photo galleries from this past year and found this shot of a male Purple Finch.
Isn’t he handsome?

Purple Finches are wintertime resident of North Carolina, yet unfortunately their numbers appear to be in decline.
That being said, the past 2 winters have been proving to be interesting years for viewing several species of Finches.
Quite a few North Carolina birders have noticed unusually large numbers of these gorgeous birds moving into their areas.
These mass movements, called “irruptions,” are different from regular migrations and are likely causes by a poor crop of conifer seeds, an important food source for the finches, up north.
Since their food supply had been cut back in the northern regions of the United States, large flocks of Purple Finches have been popping up all over the east coast during the winter months.

Normally Purple Finches are birds of the deep coniferous & wet hardwood forest but in the winter, they will venture out into suburban backyards and parks in search of an easy meal.
If you’re interested in attracting these feathered gems to your own yard, fill your feeders with thistle & sunflower seeds. They seem to prefer feeding from a platform style feeder vs. a cylinder too.
They will stick around the Tarheel state from November through early April so keep an eye out for them this winter!

Btw, if you’d like to buy this Purple Finch artwork that @isaacmcshanephoto & I made, please check out the Riverside Creations NC shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/RiversideCreationsNC to purchase one of these for your home too!
If ya have any questions about where to order, feel free to DM me anytime.

Photo by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds