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Cassin's Finch

Carpodacus cassiniiOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Finches (Fringillidae)

Cassin's Finch Portrait
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General

Cassin's Finch: Medium-sized, cheery finch with bright red crown and brown-streaked back. Belly is white and neck, upper breast, and rump are buff. Bill tapers evenly to a sharp point. Female has crisp brown streaks over entire body and no red hues.

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.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"cheep, cheep, cheep", "kee-up", "pwee-ee-lip"

Interesting Facts

 The male Cassin's Finch stays in its female-like plumage during its first breeding season. It sings like an older male and may give the false impression that both sexes sing.

 It craves salt, and is often found visiting mineral deposits on the ground.

 This bird was named after John Cassin, who was a curator at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

 A group of finches has many collective nouns, including a "charm", "company", and "trembling" of finches.



Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Range Map for Cassin's 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 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