[CT Birds] Odd Purple Finches -

[Carrier Graphics]

Odd Purple Finch behavior - 

    Today in the overcast mist, I heard a Purple Finch singing from the back woods. I then noticed some other birds flying about within a large Oak in the yard. They were  25 or more female Purple Finch, who were not here yesterday.

    I finally saw the lone male who was singing 100 yards away from the females in the Oak tree. The odd thing was, several females were picking material from the Oak as if gathering nesting material. When one female did this, several others chased them about as if to disrupt their efforts to build a nest.

    My best guess is the females hearing this lone male singing, might have been stimulated into a nest material gathering response, while some others did not like their actions, and broke it up as best they could.

    For sure, this male who I believe is the one of a pair I see in my yard often, was overcome with emotion being surrounded by so many newly arrived available females...

Paul Carrier