Cassin's Finch

Overview

Cassin's Finch: Medium-sized, cheery finch with bright red crown, brown-streaked back. White belly, pink 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.

INTERESTING FACTS

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

The Cassin's Finch is currently rated as Near Threatened. This is an upgraded rating from Lower Risk in 2000. Cassin's Finch is native to southern portions of Canada and the Rocky Mountain region of the United States. It tends to winter in northern Mexico. It is believed that the primary threat to this bird species is logging. Overall, the population of Cassin's Finch has declined by more than 2% per year over the last several decades.