In this article I’ll be going over 5 unique purple birds that can be found all across Kentucky so continue reading for a more detailed look at each bird below.

• Purple Martin 
• Common Grackle 
• Rock Pigeon 
• Brown Headed Cowbird 
• Purple Finch 

5 Purple Birds In Kentucky

1. Purple Martin (Progne Subis)

• Size: 19 – 20cm
• Weight: 45 – 60 grams
• Wingspan: 39 – 41cm

You’ll find purple martins within Kentucky all throughout their spring and summer breeding season. 

Purple Martins are recognised by their almost entirely purple plumage with the wings and lower half of their body purple, and the remainder a darker blue color. Females on the hand are mostly white and gray with hints of blue on their plumage.

As for where these birds live, it tends to be around open locations that are at least 40 ft. from trees or buildings so, you’ll often see them perching on utility wires and houses throughout the local Texan neighborhood. 

Purple Martins tend to eat mostly flying insects like house flies, crane flies, beetles, moths, butterflies and even dragonflies. Dragonflies in particular are a very important part of their diet.

These avians have been known to live for 13 years but, the average for most probably wouldn’t surpass 6 – 7 years.

2. Common Grackle (Quiscalus Quiscula)

• Size: 28 – 34cm
• Weight: 74 – 142 grams
• Wingspan: 36 – 46cm

Common grackles can be spotted all throughout Kentucky on a year round basis. 

The common grackle is recognised by their purple head, brown mixed with hints of purple on their wings and back, blue wing tail and chest. Females are mostly a duller darker brown color with small inklings of purple on their body.

These birds tend to spend the majority of their time within wet, open woodlands, marshes as well as in suburbs, parks, and agricultural fields. 

As for the type of food a common grackle eats, it includes eating many forms of crops like corn as well as nearly anything else that catches their eyes such as food foraged from garbage.

The average lifespan for these birds is around 17 years whilst some are able to live till the age of 22.

3. Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia)

• Size: 30 – 36cm
• Weight: 265 – 380 grams
• Wingspan: 50 – 67cm

You’ll find rock pigeons scattered all across Kentucky on a year round basis. 

Rock pigeons are mostly gray with elements of black on their wings and green plus purple hue across their neck. Females are generally smaller in size and also have a flatter head unlike the males who tend to have a more round head shape.

These pigeons spend the majority of their time around urban parks and neighborhoods, around farms, under highway, railroad bridges as well as near tall rocky cliffs.

In regards to the food rock pigeons eat, they include a variety of seeds, bread crumbs, seed grasses, worms among other insects, berries and acorns.

Rock pigeons tend to live for 6 years in the wild when averaged out.

4. Brown Headed Cowbird (Molothrus Ater)

• Size: 16 – 20cm
• Weight: 38 – 45 grams
• Wingspan: 32 – 38cm

Brown headed cowbirds can be found all across Kentucky on a year round basis.

These birds can be recognised by their light brown head, their dark blue/purple wing and body feathers. Females are mostly brown in color.

As for where brown headed cowbirds tend to spend the majority of their time, it would include open grasslands, as well as agricultural, urban, and suburban habitats where grain or cattle-disturbed soil are readily available. 

Brown headed cowbirds mostly consume mostly insects like grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, flies etc as well a number different seeds.

These cowbird are known to live for around 17 years in the wild on the high end.

5. Purple Finch (Haemorhous Purpureus)

• Size: 15 – 16cm
• Weight: 24 – 26 grams
• Wingspan: 25 – 26cm

You’ll find purple finches throughout Kentucky in their fall and winter non-breeding seasons. 

Purple finches are recognised by their pinkish plumage with hints of purple throughout, their mohawk like head feathers and gray beak. Females on the other hand are mostly brown with the brown color patterned throughout.

These finches can be found in coniferous and mixed woods, both in forest interior and along edges. They also tend to breed near oak trees and streamsides. 

Purple finches tend to eat a variety foods from insects, small fruits, berries and seeds, with seeds being their go to food source.

The average lifespan for these birds is around 3 – 4 years though many are also able to live till 6 or 7 years of age.