Purple Finch
Carpodacus purpureus
During the breeding season the male warbles its rich sounding territory song from a habitual perch high in a tree. (St. Lawrence County, New York.)
Habitat: Coniferous and mixed woods, suburbs.
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Song is a complex cheery warble of variable length, often ending with a harsh buzzy note (heard on the first of the three calls presented here). Both male and females sing. (Songs of one male, Albany County, New York.)
Habitat: In the east found in cities, suburbs, open woods.
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
Male white-winged crossbills sing from high perches such as tree tops. Songs are variable generally consisting of trills with interspersed warbles and chirps. Females also sing but much less commonly than males. (One male; Franklin County, New York)
Habitat: Crossbills are specialized for feeding on conifer cones and occur in spruce and tamarack forests with a heavy cone crop.
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
The male's song is a series of short, sweet bursts of whistles and twitters separated by periods of silence. The male also makes an easily recognized flight call perchicoree which he gives on the upswing of his normal undulating flight. The flight call can be heard year around, but as the breeding season approaches the male begins to make his spectacular, bounding flight display in which the normal undulations are greatly exaggerated. He continues the flight display through the nesting season. Both males and females make two- or three-note alarm calls. (Albany County, New York.)
Habitat: Open areas with bushes and trees, weedy fields, suburbs, feeders in winter.