Photography of Birds – Set # 150 | H.J. Ruiz - Avian101

Photography of Birds – Set # 150

Set # 150

Purple Finch (F)

Purple Finch (F)

Purple Finch (F)

The Purple Finch population has declined sharply in the East due to the House Finch. Most of the time, when these two species collide, the house finch outcompetes the purple finch. This bird has also been displaced from some habitat by the introduced house sparrow.

House Finch (F)

House Finch (F)

House Finch (F)

Originally only a resident of Mexico and the southwestern United States, they were introduced to eastern North America in the 1940s. The birds were sold illegally in New York City as “Hollywood Finches”, a marketing artifice. To avoid prosecution under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, vendors and owners released the birds. They have since become naturalized; in largely deforested land across the eastern U.S., they have displaced the native purple finch and even the non-native house sparrow. In 1870, or before, they were introduced to Hawaii and are now abundant on all its major islands.

There are estimated to be anywhere from 267 million to 1.7 billion individuals across North America.

© HJ Ruiz – Avian101

Tags: birding, birds, House Finch, Interesting information, PHOTO SETS, photography, photos of birds, Purple Finch

6 thoughts on “Photography of Birds – Set # 150”

aussiebirder on October 8, 2020 at 6:39 am said:

It is sad HJ how a species can out strip another of its habitat and food sources. We see this with introduced species also in Australia.

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on October 8, 2020 at 3:41 pm said:
  
  Yes, it happens, unfortunately. Thank you, Ashley. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
bayphotosbydonna on October 8, 2020 at 8:06 am said:

Another great side by side comparison, HJ! Thanks!!

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on October 8, 2020 at 3:43 pm said:
  
  I think it makes sense. Thank you, Donna. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
de Wets Wild on October 8, 2020 at 10:09 pm said:

Such a pity that human involvement (again!) is the cause of the decline in the fortunes of the beautiful Purple Finch.

Reply ↓
- H.J. for avian101 on October 8, 2020 at 10:24 pm said:
  
  I do not believe in introductions of species. They should let the birds decide on their own. Thank you, my friend. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓

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