What does the Purple Finch eat?

The Purple Finch's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Omnivore (primarily granivore, also consumes insects and berries)

How it forages

Primarily feeds on seeds, especially those of conifers (spruce, fir, pine), maples, and elms. Also consumes buds, nectar, berries (e.g., honeysuckle, sumac), and some insects (aphids, caterpillars) during the breeding season. Often forages in trees and shrubs, but will also feed on the ground or at bird feeders.

When it feeds

Diurnal.

Explore the Purple Finch