ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - House Finch

 House Finch

house finch

Finches are at the top of the evolutionary line of Ohio's birds. This is a family of small to medium-sized hopping birds. The bill is usually short, conical and stout, allowing them to easily crack the seeds that form the bulk of their diet. In some finches the male is much brighter than the female; in others the sexes are similar. These birds are found in every land habitat in Ohio. The group is the largest bird family in the world and includes grosbeaks, finches, buntings and sparrows.

House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: March-August

• Incubation: 12-17 days

• Clutch Size: 3-6 eggs

• Young Fledge: 12-19 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: grains, seeds, buds and fruits
Description
Male house finches are brown with streaked underparts. The face, breast and rump are red. The female is also brown and heavily streaked, but lacks the red coloration.

Habitat and Habits
House finches were introduced in New York City in 1940 and from there spread remarkably fast throughout the entire eastern United States. By the mid-1980s they had spread throughout Ohio and today are a common fixture. They are often associated with urban settings, parks and farms. The rapid jumbled warbling song of the male is a very common sound of suburbia, and house finches are generally far more likely to be seen at backyard feeders than is the similar purple finch.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The female builds a cup-like nest out of grass and other fibers in a bush, cavity or on a building. The female does the incubating, but both parents feed the chicks. Usually, the pair produces two to four clutches each summer.