Bird Food Preferences

Black-oil sunflower, Nyjer^®, and sunflower hearts

Bird Feeder Preferences

Tube, hopper, platform, and Nyjer^®

Bird House Specifications

House Finches use nest boxes.  Check out the Bird House Dimensions page to learn how to build a bird house specifically for House Finches.

Plants to Attract

Woody Plants: Apricot, blackberry, cherry, fig, peach, pear, and plum; Non-woody Plants: Alfilaria, amaranth black mustard, knotweed, napa thistle, strawberry,
turkey mullein, and wild mustard

Description

House Finches were originally found throughout the western United States and Mexico, but can now be seen throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada.  House Finches can be found in city parks, backyards, farms, and forest edges.  In the west, House Finches can also be found around edge habitats of desert, grassland, and open forest.   Since the House Finch is a very social species, they are rarely seen alone and often form flocks from a few birds to several hundred.

House Finches are on average five inches in length and weigh about 1 ounce.  Females are dull brown with dark brown streaking on their belly, back, and tail.  Males have similar coloring but are rosy red on their head, chest, and rump.

House Finches create a cup-shaped nest from stems, leaves, string, and feathers in deciduous and coniferous trees.  House Finches have also used buildings, vents, and street lights for their nests.

Similar Species

Cassin's Finch, House Sparrow (female), Pine Siskin, and Purple Finch