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Bird

Purple Finch

Carpodacus purpureus

Lives in West Virginia all year and nests here. Found in all 55 counties, across 14 habitats.

Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
14

At a glance

Group
Birds
Here
All year
Nesting
Nests here
Range
All 55 counties
Habitats
14
Habitat models
Summer, Winter

Where it lives

The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.

Habitats in West Virginia 14

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 14

Forest edges and thickets

Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж"
SummerWinterDisturbed/Successional - Shrub Regeneration; Harvested Forest - Shrub RegenerationPaul Sawyier, Landscape: young trees and shrubs in autumn colour crowding the rocky edge of a Kentucky woodland. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky (Paul Sawyier, Landscape; Johnson Collection), a neighboring state.Landscape label QS:Lit,"Paesaggio" label QS:Lhu,"Tájkép" label QS:Lca,"Paisatge" label QS:Lde,"Landschaft" label QS:Lpt,"Paisagem" label QS:Lda,"Landskab" label QS:Lsl,"Krajina" label QS:Lja,"風景" label QS:Lsv,"Landskap" label QS:Lpl,"Pejzaż" label QS:Luk,"Пейзаж" label QS:Lnl,"Landschap" label QS:Les,"Paisaje" label QS:Ltr,"Manzara" label QS:Lfi,"Maisema" label QS:Len,"Landscape" label QS:Lfr,"Paysage" label QS:Lmk,"Предел" label QS:Lru,"Пейзаж", Paul Sawyier, c. 1890-1917. Public domain. Source record.

Moist forests

Woods Scene
WinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic ForestHarvey Joiner, Woods Scene: tall beeches in a moist Kentucky woodland, light falling through a closed canopy onto a damp forest floor. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky beech woods (Harvey Joiner, Louisville painter of Kentucky beech forests; the painting does not name the site), a neighboring state.Woods Scene, Harvey Joiner, c. 1880-1920. Public domain. Source record.

Swamps

The Chickahominy Swamp LCCN2004661405
SummerWinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Swamp SystemsWilliam McIlvaine, The Chickahominy Swamp (1862): wind-tossed swamp trees standing in dark water under a storm. Shown: Chickahominy Swamp, Virginia, a neighboring state.The Chickahominy Swamp LCCN2004661405, William McIlvaine (1813-1867), 1862. Public domain. Source record.

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

SummerWinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest - Xeric; Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Hardwood; Central and Southern Appalachian Montane Oak Forest; Central Appalachian Oak and Pine Forest; Central Appalachian Pine-Oak Rocky Woodland; Southern Appalachian Montane Pine Forest and Woodland

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

SummerWinterCentral Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Forest Modifier; Central Interior and Appalachian Floodplain Systems; Central Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian; South-Central Interior Large Floodplain

Hemlock forests

Shady, evergreen forests of eastern or Carolina hemlock, often along rocky mountain streams and in gorges.

SummerWinterAppalachian Hemlock-Hardwood Forest

Moderately dry forests

Forests between dry and moist, often oak-hickory on slopes.

SummerWinterNortheastern Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest; Southern and Central Appalachian Oak Forest

Mountain balds

Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.

SummerWinterSouthern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Shrub Modifier; Southern Appalachian Grass and Shrub Bald - Herbaceous Modifier

Rich cove forests

Sheltered, moist mountain hollows and lower slopes with deep, fertile soil.

WinterSouthern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

SummerWinterDeveloped, Open Space; Cultivated Cropland; Pasture/Hay; Disturbed/Successional - Grass/Forb Regeneration; Utility Swath - Herbaceous; Ruderal Upland - Old Field

Shale barrens

Steep, sun-baked slopes of loose shale with sparse oaks and Virginia pine and their own endemic wildflowers. Linked only where the source names shale barrens; calcareous shale stays with the limestone glades.

SummerWinter

Spruce-fir forests

Cool, evergreen forests of red spruce and Fraser fir on the highest mountains.

SummerWinter

Streams, rivers and their banks

Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.

SummerWinterCentral Interior and Appalachian Riparian Systems; Cumberland Riverscour; South-Central Interior Small Stream and Riparian

Tree plantations and managed pine

Planted or intensively managed stands of pine or hardwoods grown for timber; a land use rather than a natural community.

SummerWinterDeciduous Plantation; Evergreen Plantation or Managed Pine; Managed Tree Plantation
Other habitats in its models (171)

Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in West Virginia. Those recorded in West Virginia first, the rest by region.

Elsewhere in the South (90)
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry and Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood and Mixed Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Peatland Pocosin Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Dune and Maritime Grassland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
  • Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Central and Southern Appalachian Northern Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
  • Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Calcareous Glade and Barrens Summer and winter.
  • Central Interior Highlands Dry Acidic Glade and Barrens Summer and winter.
  • Crosstimbers Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Cumberland Sandstone Glade and Barrens Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Limestone Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loess Bluff Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Mesic Slope Forest Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Post Oak Savanna and Woodland Winter.
  • East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Edwards Plateau Limestone Savanna and Woodland Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Flatwoods Winter.
  • Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Alluvial Plain Dry-Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Bottomland Depression Winter.
  • Mississippi River Low Floodplain (Bottomland) Forest Winter.
  • Mississippi River Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Nashville Basin Limestone Glade Summer and winter.
  • Northern Crowley's Ridge Sand Forest Winter.
  • Ouachita Montane Oak Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry Oak Woodland Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Riparian Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Woodland Winter.
  • Ozark-Ouachita Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • Red River Large Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Ridge and Valley Calcareous Valley Bottom Glade and Woodland Summer and winter.
  • South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Flatwoods Winter.
  • South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Winter.
  • Southeastern Great Plains Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Southeastern Interior Longleaf Pine Woodland Winter.
  • Southern and Central Appalachian Bog and Fen Summer and winter.
  • Southern Appalachian Low Mountain Pine Forest Summer and winter.
  • Southern Blackland Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Dry Upland Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Oak Dome and Hammock Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
  • Southern Crowley's Ridge Mesic Loess Slope Forest Winter.
  • Southern Interior Low Plateau Dry-Mesic Oak Forest Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Glade and Barrens Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Mesic Forest Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Catahoula Barrens Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Nepheline Syenite Glade Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Nonriverine Wet Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Calcareous Prairie Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Flatwoods Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Pine-Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Sandhill Oak and Shortleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Forest Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Calcareous Prairie Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Upland Longleaf Pine Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
Northeast (6)
  • Acadian Low-Elevation Spruce-Fir-Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
  • Central Appalachian Alkaline Glade and Woodland Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Winter.
  • Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dry Hardwood Forest Winter.
Midwest (10)
  • Central Mixedgrass Prairie Summer and winter.
  • Central Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Beech-Maple Forest Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Dry Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Dry-Mesic Oak Forest and Woodland Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Maple-Basswood Forest Winter.
  • North-Central Interior Oak Savanna Summer and winter.
  • North-Central Interior Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairie Winter.
  • North-Central Oak Barrens Summer and winter.
  • Western Great Plains Wooded Draw and Ravine Winter.
Land cover and other classes (65)
  • Allegheny-Cumberland Dry Oak Forest and Woodland - Pine Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Arkansas Valley Prairie and Woodland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Winter.
  • Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Winter.
  • Central Interior and Appalachian Shrub-Herbaceous Wetland Systems Summer and winter.
  • Developed, High Intensity Summer and winter.
  • Developed, Low Intensity Summer and winter.
  • Developed, Medium Intensity Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Herbaceous Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Black Belt Calcareous Prairie and Woodland - Woodland Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Loblolly Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland - Scrub/Shrub Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Prairie and Woodland Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Dry Upland Hardwood Forest - Offsite Pine Modifier Summer and winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • East Gulf Coastal Plain Northern Loess Plain Oak-Hickory Upland - Juniper Modifier Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.
  • Eastern Great Plains Wet Meadow, Prairie, and Marsh Summer and winter.
  • Eastern Highland Rim Prairie and Barrens - Dry Modifier Winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Open Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Winter.
  • Harvested Forest - Grass/Forb Regeneration Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Annual Grassland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Forbland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Perennial Grassland Winter.
  • Introduced Upland Vegetation - Treed Summer and winter.
  • Lower Mississippi River Bottomland Depressions - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • Mississippi River Floodplain and Riparian Forest Winter.
  • Modified/Managed Southern Tall Grassland Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Mixed Modifier Winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest - Virginia/Pitch Pine Modifier Summer and winter.
  • Northeastern Interior Dry Oak Forest-Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • Recently Burned Grassland Winter.
  • Recently Burned Shrubland Summer and winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Nupea Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Hardwood Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Loblolly Pine Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-(Pine) Forest - Mixed Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Dry Oak-Heath Forest - Mixed Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Winter.
  • Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Winter.
  • Southern Ridge and Valley Dry Calcareous Forest - Pine modifier Summer and winter.
  • Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Winter.
  • Texas-Louisiana Coastal Prairie Slough Winter.
  • Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Winter.

All habitats

Seasons in West Virginia

  • Year-round: nests here, in 33 of 55 counties.
  • Winter: does not nest here, in 39 of 55 counties.

Also found in its main habitats

Its main habitats in West Virginia, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.

Purple Finch uses many habitats in West Virginia; these are its 3 most characteristic.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Birds 97

Plants 905

All of roadsides, fields and disturbed ground in West Virginia

Dry forests and woodlands

Birds 89

Plants 192

All of dry forests and woodlands in West Virginia

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Birds 104

Plants 303

All of floodplain and bottomland forests in West Virginia

USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models.

Sources