Purple birds aren’t common but, they can be found if you know where to look. If you’ve found yourself here then I’ve compiled a list of 5 unique purple birds that you can look out for on your next birdwatching expedition.

• Purple Martin 
• Purple Finch 
• Common Grackle 
• European Starling 
• Rock Pigeon

5 Purple Birds In Ohio

1. Purple Martin (Progne Subis)

 

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

Purple martins are found within Ohio when they’re going through breeding season. You’ll often see them arriving at the state between March and April. 

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 neighbourhood. 

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. Purple Finch (Haemorhous Purpureus)

 

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

Purple finches will stay in Ohio when they aren’t breeding, meaning they’ll often spend the winter months in the state. 

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.

3. Common Grackle (Quiscalus Quiscula)

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

A common grackle would consider Ohio as one of their many permanent residencies therefore, if you know where to look, these avians can be found in Ohio year round. 

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 and marshes as well as in suburbs, parks, and agricultural fields. 

As for the type of food common grackles eat, it includes eating many forms of crops like corn as well as nearly anything else that catches their eyes, which also encompasses the foraging of garbage.

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

4. European Starling (Sturnus Vulgaris)

• Size: 20 – 23cm
• Weight: 60 – 96 grams
• Wingspan: 31 – 40cm

European starlings can be found in Ohio year round so, this does make it one of their permanent residences in North America. 

These starlings are recognised by their multi colored plumage which is made up of purple, green, blue and gray. The head and neck are purple with hints of green, their wings green and gray, the belly and breast blue and green with the beak a striking yellow color. Females on the other hand are mostly a light brownish/gray color.

European starlings can often be found around people, using mowed lawns, city streets, and agricultural areas like city parks as their place of rest. 

As for what they eat, it includes worms, snails, insects, fruit and seed mixes. They do also forage for food around soil and rocks.

European starlings are known to live for around 2 – 3 years in average in wild, whilst some have been observed living for 20 years (specifically in captivity).

5. Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia)

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

These pigeons can be found in Ohio year round, from summer till winter. 

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 neighbourhoods, 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.