They are extending their range north into southern Canada and south into Mexico. Some northern populations of House Finches are migratory, moving south in the winter. Their flight all is a soft husky “fidlip” or “vweet” (Sibley). The final slurred note is more often heard in House Finches than in the other two species. Compared with Cassin’s and Purple finches, House Finch songs sound slower, rougher, and somewhat less fluid. Females sometimes give a shorter, simpler version of the song. The song often ends with an upward or downward slur, and lasts about 3 seconds. Male House Finches sing a long, jumbled warbling composed of short notes. There are consistent differences in song patterns among House Finches. House Finches also sing and may have song dialects. The fact remains that House Finches are easy to feed and will not starve if the insects are lacking (Valle). They also eat a few small insects, especially aphids, but are primarily seed and fruit eaters at all times of the year (Bird Web). They feed their young regurgitated seeds.

The House Finches diet is mostly vegetable matter (seeds, buds, berries and nectar). They also often forage on the ground and perch on weeds, shrubs, and trees. While House Finches flock towards feeders during the non-breeding season, most flocks will stay together and use the bird feeder’s year round. They prefer edge habitats and are absent from dense coniferous forests. They are also found in wild areas such as savannas, desert grasslands and chaparral thickets (Vuilleumier). House Finches are native to open and desert habitats, but now can be found in almost any kind of human altered habitat.

The color varies among males, from pale yellow, to orange with bright red (All About Birds). Females also have an indistinctly marked face. Female house finches have blurrier streaks and grayer undersides. The male house finch typically has a red head, breast, and rump, but does not have red coloring on its brown back or wings. Many finches have notched tails but the house finch has only a shallow notch in its tail. The house finch is a relatively small bird with a longish, slightly notched tail, short wings, and a distinctively small bill with a curved culmen (the upper ridge of the bird’s bill). It is very common in suburban areas and is attracted in large numbers to seed feeders. The house finch has spread to a multitude of states and habitats across North America and Hawaii. It was introduced into eastern North America in the 1940’s via the release of cage-raised “Hollywood finches.” These birds quickly became established in the east and interbred with native purple finches (Elliot). It is native to western North America (All about Birds). The House Finch, ( Haemorhous mexicanus) is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Content for this page researched and created by Marcus Signore

Sparrow with redhead