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Cassin's Finch

Carpodacus cassiniiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)

Breeding Location:

Forest edge, Mountains



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Semicolonial



Breeding Population:

Fairly common



Egg Color:

Blue green with brown and black spots



Number of Eggs:

4 - 6



Incubation Days:

12 - 14



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Twigs, reeds, rootlets, and strips of bark with lining of fibers, soft grass, and hair.



Migration:

Northern birds migrate



Splitbar

Overview

Cassin's Finch: Medium-sized, cheery finch with bright red crown, brown-streaked back. White belly, buff neck,upper breast and rump. Bill tapers evenly to a sharp point. Forages on ground and high in trees, eats mostly conifer seeds and buds, some insects. Swift bounding flight on rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Cassin's Finch: Breeds from southwestern Canada south to southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico; visits lowlands during winter. Preferred habitats include open conifer stands at high elevations.

Breeding and Nesting

Cassin's Finch: Four or six blue green eggs with brown and black spots are laid in a cup nest made of twigs and rootlets, usually built in a conifer. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Cassin's Finch: Feeds on seeds and buds, especially those from conifers, and fruits; also eats insects during summer.

Readily Eats

Peanuts, Suet, Millet, Fruit, Sunflower Seeds (hulled)

Vocalization

Cassin's Finch: Song is a series of warbles. Call note, a high "pwee-de-lip", is diagnostic.

Similar Species

Cassin's Finch: House Finch has streaked underparts, less purple on head, longer tail, and different call notes. Purple Finch has unstreaked undertail coverts and smaller bill. Pine Siskin is similar to female, but is smaller and lacks face pattern.

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Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Carpodacus cassinii
Length6 Inches
Wingspan9.75 Inches

Cassin's Finch

Cassin's Finch: Medium-sized, cheery finch with bright red crown, brown-streaked back. White belly, buff neck,upper breast and rump. Bill tapers evenly to a sharp point. Forages on ground and high in trees, eats mostly conifer seeds and buds, some insects. Swift bounding flight on rapid wing beats.

● Song: "cheep, cheep, cheep", "kee-up", "pwee-ee-lip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Cassin's Finch: Feeds on seeds and buds, especially those from conifers, and fruits; also eats insects during summer.

● Breeding & nesting: Cassin's Finch: Four or six blue green eggs with brown and black spots are laid in a cup nest made of twigs and rootlets, usually built in a conifer. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Cassin's Finch: House Finch has streaked underparts, less purple on head, longer tail, and different call notes. Purple Finch has unstreaked undertail coverts and smaller bill. Pine Siskin is similar to female, but is smaller and lacks face pattern.

Flight Pattern

Swift bounding flight with rapid wing beats.
Cassin's Finch Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Cassin's Finch: Breeds from southwestern Canada south to southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico; visits lowlands during winter. Preferred habitats include open conifer stands at high elevations.
BreedingMonogamous, Semicolonial
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight0.9 Ounces