CASSIN PURPLE FINCH. Carpodacus cassini Baird

Field characters.—Slightly larger than Junco or California Purple Finch; tail with decided notch at end. Male: Crown bright crimson, breast and rump pale pink; upper surface of body suffused with reddish. Streaks of brown on back but none on belly. (See pl. 7a, b.) Female: Upper surface dark brown, without any greenish tinge; under surface whitish streaked with brown; no prominent spot on chest. Voice: Male has a clear song, resembling that of California Linnet yet different; both sexes have a single-syllabled call note.

Occurrence.—Common resident of Canadian and Hudsonian zones on both slopes of Sierra Nevada; recorded from Hazel Green and Pinoche Peak ridge (west of Chinquapin) eastward to Williams Butte and Mono Mills. Casual in winter at Smith Creek, 6 miles east of Coulterville. Once observed in Yosemite Valley, November 16, 1915. Frequents tops of forest trees and also open ground beneath. Seen singly, in pairs, or in small flocks.

The Cassin Purple Finch is the largest of the three red-headed finches, and its range is the uppermost. It is a hardy species, adapted to life in a rigorous climate; for it is resident in its boreal habitat throughout the year and drops to lower levels only individually and rarely. In the Yosemite region it is to be found commonly above the range of the California Purple Finch, that is, throughout the "high Sierras." One is sure to meet with it upon attaining the rim of Yosemite Valley, as at Glacier Point. or above Yosemite Falls.

The Cassin Purple Finch is somewhat larger than either the California Purple Finch or the California Linnet and it differs somewhat in coloration from those species. (See pl. 7.) In the male Cassin the top of the head is bright crimson whereas the breast and rump are much lighter, being a pale pink. The female is likewise paler toned, the ground color of her under surface being whitish and her upper surface lacking entirely the greenish tinge of the California Purple Finch. The male Cassin Purple Finch requires more than one year (probably two) to acquire the red plumage, although it probably breeds while still in the dull plumage.

The song of the Cassin Purple Finch is more varied than that of either the California Purple Finch or the linnet, yet it reminds one strongly of the linnet's song. There are full rounded notes and also some 'squeals' like those in the song of the linnet.

At Hazel Green early on the morning of May 14, 1919, we found a number of Cassin Purple Finches foraging in company with several Sierra Crossbills and a few California Evening Grosbeaks. The object of attraction for this mixed assemblage was a pile of chaff on the east side of an old stage barn. By stationing ourselves inside the barn we were able to watch the birds at close range. In the flock were about twelve of the present species, two of them old males in red plumage, the rest in the indeterminate brown female-like plumage. Upon collecting some of the latter birds we found them all to be males and in breeding condition. Apparently, so far as the Cassin Purple Finches were concerned, this was a 'stag' flock, the males flocking separately, a trait of the species which has been noted elsewhere in the mountains of California.

Throughout the course of our field work at the higher altitudes Cassin Purple Finches were encountered frequently. In early summer when nesting duties were engaging their attention, single birds or pairs were seen as a rule; but later, after the broods had been reared, family parties were encountered. Close to the top of Mt. Hoffmann on June 29, 1915, fully 6 males of this species were singing volubly. Probably 6 singing birds would be the average number to be observed during a morning. Later in the year our censuses record about 10 birds seen in an hour in favorable country. The flocks are never large, rarely exceeding a dozen birds.

At Merced Grove Big Trees in June, 1915, a male bird, which probably had a mate on a nest in the vicinity, used to come to the ground near the ranger cabin in the early morning and hop about confidingly in the litter of needles, searching for food.

We found no occupied nests of the Cassin Purple Finch. At Mono Mills on May 17, 1916, an individual was seen finishing a nest 40 feet above ground in the outermost crotch of a pine branch. Near Peregoy Meadow on May 20, 1919, a female was seen to disappear into a dense fir bough 60 feet above the ground. At Ellery Lake, 9500 feet altitude, on July 6, 1916, a female Cassin Purple Finch was observed feeding fully grown young, while at the same time the members of another pair were engaged in building a nest. A male bird taken in Lyell Cañon on July 23, 1915, had passed the height of the breeding season. It would seem, therefore, that the Cassin Purple Finch here as elsewhere has a long nesting season, beginning in late May and lasting at least until the end of July.

The feeding habits of the Cassin Purple Finch are like those of the California. It forages either in the tops of the trees or on the ground, rarely feeding in bushes and then only on the outer foliage. Near Tamarack Flat, on May 24, 1919, a male of this species was seen feeding on the urn-like buds of the green manzanita. Young buds of one sort or another, especially needle buds of the coniferous trees, seem to be the preferred food. These and similar tender growths are likely the staple food of the Cassin Purple Finch during the long winter season when the ground is covered with snow.