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GALLERIES > BIRDS > PASSERIFORMES > FRINGILLIDAE > HOUSE FINCH [Carpodacus mexicanus]    [plot on map]


House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Cerillos, NM
GPS: 35.5N, -106.1W, elev=6,140' MAP
Date: February 14, 2012
ID : B13K4088 [4896 x 3264]

bird photography

House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica Lagoon), CA
GPS: 33.7N, -118.1W, elev=27' MAP
Date: October 31, 2010
ID : 7C2V3593 [3888 x 2592]

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House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Huntington Beach (Bolsa Chica Lagoon), CA
GPS: 33.7N, -118.1W, elev=27' MAP
Date: October 31, 2010
ID : 7C2V3591 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Playa del Rey (Ballona Creek), CA
GPS: 34.0N, -118.4W, elev=0' MAP
Date: January 4, 2009
ID : 7C2V3207 [3888 x 2592]

House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: North Chagrin Park, Willoughby Hills, OH
GPS: 41.6N, -81.4W, elev=895' MAP
Date: January 12, 2009
ID : 7C2V3532 [3888 x 2592]

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House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Pinos Altos, NM
GPS: 32.9N, -108.2W, elev=6,990' MAP
Date: December 14, 2007
ID : 7946 [3888 x 2592]

House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Pasadena (Eaton Canyon), CA
GPS: 34.2N, -118.1W, elev=901' MAP
Date: September 7, 2008
ID : 7C2V8636 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Los Angeles, CA
GPS: 34.1N, -118.2W, elev=281' MAP
Date: June 26, 2008
ID : 7C2V4639 [3888 x 2592]

House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Pinos Altos, NM
GPS: 32.9N, -108.2W, elev=6,990' MAP
Date: December 14, 2007
ID : 7955 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Pinos Altos, NM
GPS: 32.9N, -108.2W, elev=6,990' MAP
Date: December 14, 2007
ID : 7936 [3888 x 2592]

House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Los Angeles, CA
GPS: 34.1N, -118.2W, elev=281' MAP
Date: May 10, 2007
ID : ? [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

House Finch Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Madera Canyon, AZ
GPS: 31.7N, -110.9W, elev=4,953' MAP
Date: June 4, 2007
ID : ? [3888 x 2592]

House Finch Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Mar Vista, CA
GPS: 34.0N, -118.4W, elev=25' MAP
Date: June 6, 2008
ID : 7C2V4499 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

SPECIES INFO

The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is a medium-sized finch of the Rosefinch genus.

Adults have a long brown tail and are a brown or dull-brown color across the back with some shading into deep grey on the wing feathers. Breast and belly feathers may be streaked. In most cases, adult males have a reddish color to their heads, necks and shoulders. This color sometimes extends to the stomach and down the back, between the wings. The male coloration varies in intensity with the seasons and is derived from the berries and fruits in its diet. As a result, the colors range from pale, straw yellow, to bright orange, to deep, intense red. Adult females have brown upperparts and streaked underparts.

These birds are mainly permanent residents; some eastern birds migrate south. Their breeding habitat is urban and semi-open areas from southern Canada to Mexico.

The house finch forages on the ground or in vegetation. Their diet is mainly seeds and berries, being voracious consumers of weed seeds, such as nettle and dandelion. Consume some insects. They are frequent visitors to feeders throughout the year, particularly if stocked with sunflower seeds or Nyjer/thistle seed. They will congregate at hanging Nyjer sock feeders. The house finch is known to damage orchard fruit and consume commercially grown grain, but is generally not considered a significant pest, rather an annoyance.

Nests are made in cavities, including openings in buildings, and also on various kinds of vegetation; sometimes nests abandoned by other birds will be used. Nests may be re-used for subsequent broods or in following years. The nest is built by the female, sometimes in as little as two days. It is well made of twigs and debris, forming a cup shape, usually 1.5m to 2m above the ground.

Eggs are laid from February through August, two or more broods per year with 2 to 6 eggs per brood. The eggs are a pale bluish-green with few black spots and a smooth, somewhat glossy surface. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days and the young leave the nest about 11 to 19 days after hatching. Dandelion seeds are among the preferred seeds fed to the young.

During courtship, the male may present the female with choice bits of food and, if she imitates the posture of a hungry chick, he may actually feed her. The male may also feed the female during the breeding and incubation period.

Originally a resident of the southwestern United States, during the 1940s, the birds were sold illegally in New York, marketed as the "Hollywood Finch." Many vendors and owners released the birds into the wild in order to avoid prosecution. The released birds spread rapidly and, in areas that are not forested, have displaced the resident Purple Finch. In 1870, they were introduced into Hawaii.

Their song is a rapid, cheery warble or a variety of chirps.




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house_finch's Range Map Click here to see the House Finch's range map!
Listen to the House Finch Song:



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