_Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. Case 2, Figs. 32, 33; Case 4, Figs. 48,
49_
The adult male is dull rose rather than purple,
the female is sparrow-like in appearance but may
be known by a whitish line over the eye and the
company she keeps. Young males resemble their
mother their first winter. L. 6-1/4.
_Range._ Eastern North America; nesting from
northern Illinois and northern New Jersey
northward to Canada; winters from the Middle
States to the Gulf.
Washington, common W.V., Sept. 12-May 26, largely
a migrant. Ossining, rare P.R., common T.V.
Cambridge, P.R. common from Apl. to Oct.;
irregular, but sometimes abundant in winter. N.
Ohio, common W.V., Sept. 1-May 20. Glen Ellyn,
fairly common T.V., Mch.-Apl., Sept.-Oct.,
uncommon W.V.
Erratic wanderers which travel on no fixed schedule but seem to feel at
home wherever they find themselves. Except when nesting, they usually
live in small flocks which, if the fare of our feeding-stands please
them, will sometimes live with us for weeks. The call-note is
_creak-creak_, the song a flowing, musical warble often uttered in
detached fragments. Four to six bluish, spotted eggs are laid in May;
the nest being generally built in a coniferous tree.