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House Finch

Carpodacus mexicanusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)

House Finch Portrait
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General

House Finch: Medium-sized finch with brown-streaked back and wings, and brown-streaked white underparts. Head, throat, and rump are pink-red. Tail is relatively long and weakly notched. Bill is short and slightly decurved. Female and juvenile are brown with gray streaking overall. All plumages may show yellow wash on head, back, and breast; in adult males, yellow wash sometimes completely replaces red.

Range and Habitat

House Finch: Resident throughout the west, from southern Canada to southern Mexico, and east to Nebraska. Introduced to eastern North America, where it is now widespread in cities and residential areas. In the west, preferred habitats include chaparral, deserts, orchards, and suburban areas.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"zeeeeee"

Interesting Facts

  • The coloring of the male House Finch can range from deep red to golden yellow, depending on available diet during molting.
  • Originally they were brought from the Southwest to Long Island as caged birds. In 1940, a small population was released into the wild and flourished. They have since spread throughout the eastern and Midwestern United States.
  • Considered a pest by some, they are susceptible to chronic infections that can spread to other feeder visitors and commercial poultry.
  • A group of house finches are collectively known as a "development" of finches.


Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for House Finch
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Carpodacus mexicanus
Length6 Inches
Wingspan9.75 Inches

House Finch

House Finch: Medium-sized finch with brown-streaked back and wings, and brown-streaked white underparts. Head, throat, and rump are pink-red. Tail is relatively long and weakly notched. Bill is short and slightly decurved. Feeds mostly on seeds, takes some insects and fruits. Swift bounding flight.

● Song: "zeeeeee"

● Foraging & Feeding: House Finch: Eats mostly seeds, including those from thistle, dandelion, sunflower, and mistletoe, but also buds and fruits; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: House Finch: Two to six blue eggs with lavender and black spots at large end are laid in a tightly woven, compact nest set in a bush, thicket, natural cavity, or on a building. Nest is built by the female and is made of twigs, grass, leaves, rootlets, bits of debris, and feathers. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: House Finch: Cassin's and Purple finches have streaks on breasts, shorter, notched tails, and different calls. Other female finches have streaked faces and shorter, notched tails.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight., Alternates several rapid wing beats with brief periods of wings pulled to sides.
House Finch Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: House Finch: Resident throughout the west, from southern Canada to southern Mexico, and east to Nebraska. Introduced to eastern North America, where it is now widespread in cities and residential areas. In the west, preferred habitats include chaparral, deserts, orchards, and suburban areas.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationAbundant
MigrationSome migrate
Weight0.7 Ounces