![]() Only natural island populations appear to be threatened.Throughout the year, about 86% of what House Finches eat is weed seeds, according to The Audubon Encyclopedia of North American Birds. The human modification of natural habitats, particularly the increase of seed feeders throughout the east, greatly benefits the house finch populations. Migration: some northern populations appear to be migratory, moving south in winter. Both western and introduced eastern populations appear to be spreading. Very common, often abundant resident throughout much of the U.S., extending north into much of extreme southern Canada and south into Mexico. Song: lively and high-pitched, consisting of varied 3-note phrases that usually end in a nasal wheeer. The female common rosefinch looks similar, but she is drabber, with less distinct streaking below.Ĭall: most commonly a whistled wheat. Also note the house’s smaller, more curved bill. The female house tends to have browner underparts than the 2 as well, with blurry streaks below. The female house has a very plain face, unlike the purple and Cassin’s, which both show distinct eyebrows. The male common rosefinch is more rose-pink overall and lacks distinct streaking on its belly. Other tell-tale differences between the species include the Cassin’s pink cheek and pinkish tone on its back, and on female and immature Cassin’s, the much finer and crisp streaks on its belly. Told from male Cassin’s finch by brown cap and eyebrow and curved bill. The male house differs from the male purple finch not only by having a smaller, more curved bill, but also by lacking a distinct eyebrow, having a brown cap and auricular patch, and being heavily streaked on belly. Identifying the male and female house from other Carpodacus finches requires care. Both the clementis from the Channel Islands in California and the potosinus from central Texas are brighter red, with bolder streaking on a whiter belly. Subspecies frontalis, the most widespread throughout the United States, sports a generally more orange-red to yellow breast and has less distinct streaking on the belly. Clinal variation where populations come together, as well as individual variation and effects of diet on plumage coloration complicate the separation of different subspecies. Of the at least 13 described subspecies, 4 occur in North America north of Mexico. She lacks the distinct pale eyebrow found on the male. The brown body has distinct, blurry streaking above and below. Female: she is much drabber, lacking the all-red coloration of the male. ![]() The wings have 2 pale indistinct wing bars each. The top of crown and auriculars are brown. ![]() The red breast is clearly demarcated from a whitish belly with dark streaks. Male: the breast, rump, and front of the head are typically red, but the color can vary to orange or occasionally yellow. ![]() The house is a relatively small Carpodacus finch with a longish, slightly notched tail, short wings, and a distinctly small bill with a curved culmen. It has become very common in suburban areas and is easily attracted in large numbers to seed feeders. Originally a “western” species of semiarid environments, it was introduced in the east in the 1940s it has now expanded its range and spread to virtually every state, as well as a multitude of habitats. The attractive house finch is one of the more common and recognizable species throughout the United States. ![]()
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