Name: House Finch
Description: A bright red- and brown-striped bird found in cities and suburbs, the House Finch comes readily to backyard feeders. Originally a bird of the southwestern United States and Mexico, the House Finch was sold illegally and marketed as the “Hollywood Finch.” In 1940, several vendors and owners released the birds into the wild in order to avoid prosecution. The birds quickly started breeding and spread across the entire eastern United States and southern Canada.
Other Names: None
Color: In most cases, male House Finches have a reddish color to their heads, necks and shoulders. This color sometimes extends to the stomach and down the back, between the wings. The red or yellow color of a male comes from pigments that it gets in its food during molting; the more pigment in the food, the redder the male. House Finches have a long brown tail and are a brown or dull-brown color across the back, with some shading into deep gray on the wing feathers. Breast and belly feathers may be streaked. Females have brown upper parts and streaked under parts.
Sound: The House Finch’s song is a hoarse warble that goes up and down rapidly. Its call note is a sharp “cheep.”
Preferred Environment: In the east, the House Finch is found almost exclusively in urban and suburban habitats, especially in areas with buildings, lawn and small conifers. In the west, the House Finch is found around people, but also in desert, chaparral, oak savanna, riparian areas and open, coniferous forests.
Nesting Habits: The House Finch’s nest, built by the female, is an open cup of fine grass stems, leaves, rootlets, thin twigs, string, wool and feathers, lined with similar but finer material. Nests are made in cavities, including openings in buildings, and also on various kinds of vegetation, or may be located in trees, bird boxes or on building ledges. Sometimes House Finches will use nests abandoned by other birds.
Food Preference: House Finches feed on sunflower seeds or niger (thistle) and congregate at hanging Niger sock feeders.
