House Finch

Overview

House Finch: Medium-sized finch with brown-streaked back and wings, and brown-streaked white underparts. Head, throat, and rump are typically pink-red; yellow to orange variants may occur. 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.

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.

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.

The House Finch currently has a rating of Least Concern. This is a downgraded rating from a 2000 rating of Lower Risk. At this time there are no immediate concerns or threats regarding this bird species due to the fact that both the population and the range of this bird are large enough for there to be no concerns regarding decline. The House Finch has a range of nearly 8 million square kilometers. The population of the House Finch is estimated to be around 21 million individuals. The House Finch is native to the United States, Mexico and Canada.