Red
Description: A plump, sparrow-sized (5 1/4" to 6 1/4") bird with a deeply notched tail and short conical beak, Purple Finches are named for the raspberry-red color of the males. The raspberry color is deepest on the head, nape, face, throat, breast, flanks, and rump. The hindneck, back, and scapular feathers are deep red streaked with brown. Wings and tail are brown and the belly and undertail coverts are white.
Females are quite different, lacking any red color. The head is pale brown, with fine dark streaks, and a dark ear patch separating a broad white suprecilium and a white moustache stripe. The white moustache stripe is separated from the white of the throat by a brown malar stripe. Back and scapulars are brown and streaked; the rump, tail, and wings are also brown, but unstreaked. Throat, breast, and flanks are white with heavy brown streaks. The belly and undertail coverts are unstreaked white. First-summer males are similar to females but with head and rump washed in olive-yellow and deep yellow on chin and throat. Males in this plumage may sing and hold territory before molting into adult plumage in their second fall.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/bow/purfin/
[Edited to add reference - McG]
