House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus · Bird. Vertebrate. Warm-blooded. Wild.
Animal Family
Fringillidae, order Passeriformes, class Aves
Animal Category
Songbird
Breed / Variety
Common House Finch
Conservation Status
IUCN Status: Least Concern. Population is stable and widespread across North America.
About This Creature
Small-bodied finch with large beaks and long tails. Adults are approximately 5-6 inches long, weighing 16-27 grams. Males show red plumage on the head and breast, while females are plain grayish-brown with thick streaks.
Physical Characteristics
Strong conical beak for seed-cracking. Short wings and a relatively long, notched tail. Females and juveniles are streaked brown, lacking the bright coloration of mature males. Identification in the image is based on the cup-shaped nest and pale blue eggs with black/purple speckling.
Behavior & Temperament
highly social, often found in large flocks outside breeding season. Diurnal. Communicates through a lively, high-pitched warbling song. They are monogamous and famous for nesting in man-made locations like hanging planters (as seen in the image).
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Native to western North America; successfully introduced throughout the eastern United States and Hawaii.
Habitat
Urban, suburban, agricultural, and desert scrub. Highly adaptable to human presence. Nesting is terrestrial and often aerial in structures.
Diet & Nutrition
Almost exclusively Herbivorous/Granivorous. They feed on seeds, buds, and fruits. They are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders, particularly for sunflower seeds.
Lifespan & Health
Typical lifespan is 2-5 years in the wild, though some reach 11 years. Prone to Mycoplasmal conjunctivitis (finch eye disease). 3-6 eggs per clutch; incubation lasts 12-14 days.
Special Characteristics
Known for their adaptability to urban environments. Male coloration is derived from carotenoid pigments in their diet; the redder the male, the more attractive he is to mates.
Ecological Information
Primary seed eaters. They play a minor role in seed dispersal but are a significant food source for urban predators like hawks and domestic cats.