House Finch
(Haemorhous mexicanus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The male has a bright red “eyebrow” line and a brown cap. The back is streaked brown. The flanks, belly, and undertail coverts are heavily streaked. |
Size |
5″ to 6″ in length 9½″ wingspan |
Voice |
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Similar Species |
| Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male has a burgundy-red cap. The back is streaked brown and red. The flanks, belly, and undertail coverts are whitish and unstreaked. |
Habitat |
Urban and suburban areas, rural areas with buildings and lawns. |
Ecology |
Migration |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
Nativity |
Mexico and the southwestern United States |
Occurrence |
Widespread and common year-round resident except in the northeast, where it is uncommon to rare year-round resident House Finch is native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. In the early twentieth century it was captured and sold illegally in eastern pet stores as the “Hollywood Finch", named for its striking good looks. In the 1940’s New York began to enforce existing songbird regulations, and pet store owners released their House Finches to avoid prosecution. The birds adapted well to their new environment and spread rapidly, displacing the native Purple Finch. By 1968 they were common in the east from Cape Cod to the Virginia Tidewater Region. Today their range covers every state in the lower 48 and the southern tier of every Canadian border province. In Minnesota they are common in all but a handful of northern counties, where they are present but in small numbers. |
Maps |
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
Taxonomy |
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Class |
Aves (birds) |
Order |
Passeriformes (perching birds) |
Family |
Fringillidae (finches, euphonias, and allies) |
Subfamily |
Carduelinae |
Genus |
Haemorhous (American rosefinches) |
This bird was formerly placed with the Old World finches in the genus Carpodacus. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Central Mexican House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus mexicanus) Guadalupe House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus amplus) Guanajuato House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus centralis) Guerrero House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus griscomi) Northern House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis) Oaxaca House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus roseipectus) San Clemente House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus clementis) San Lucas House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus ruberrimus) San Luis House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus potosinus) Sinaloa House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus rhodopnus) Southwest Mexican House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus coccineus) |
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Synonyms |
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Carpodacus mexicanus |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
House Finch |
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House Finch |
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House Finch |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Male house finch sings to nesting female |
About
Published on Apr 10, 2012 A female house finch has built a nest in our window awning. I decided to put a webcam in the window and record some of their activities. I enjoyed watching the male sing to his mate, unfortunately my dog started barking and scared him away..... |
House Finch (Fringillidae: Haemorhous mexicanus) |
About
Uploaded on Jul 6, 2009 Photographed at East Grand Forks, Minnesota (06 July 2009). |
House Finch - HD Mini-Documentary |
About
Uploaded on Feb 18, 2009 Mini-documentary about the House Finch of North America. |
House Finch Family Dinner |
About
Uploaded on Jul 20, 2009 Kitchener Southern Ontario Canada July 19 2009 Video of Nesting House Finch. Eggs hatched on July 18 2009 Finches took over abandoned Robin's nest on top of side door light. |
House finch (male) with spring song |
About
Uploaded on Feb 14, 2011 House finch (male) is singing on the feeder. Mating season is about to start. Finally, female house finch is answering him, you can hear it. https://sites.google.com/site/backyardbirdbathwildnature/backyard-birds---photos San Francisco Bay Area. |
Visitor Sightings |
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Kaye Benson |
Location: feeder in Chanhassen |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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