Carpodacus mexicanus
Before cities began to dot America's soil, House Finches were restricted to the Southwest. During the 1920s and 1930s, however, they were popular cage birds, and they were sold across the continent as 'Hollywood Finches.' Illegal releases of the caged birds and expansion from their historic range into farmlands and cities have resulted in two separate distributions in North America that are converging like a zipper along the Rocky Mountains. The House Finch is becoming one of the most common birds in North America; its expansion symbolizes both the intentional and the indirect results of human influence on wildlife communities. If your backyard feeder is currently free of House Finches, be patient: they're on their way. |
I.D.: General: streaked undertail coverts; square tail. Male: brown cap; red eyebrow, forecrown, throat and breast; heavily streaked flanks. Female: indistinct facial patterning; heavily streaked underparts. Size: L 5-6 in. (13-15 cm). Range: locally common year-round in the U.S. Rockies; increasingly scarce northward; currently absent from the Canadian Rockies, but its range is expanding. Habitat: cities, towns and agricultural areas up to the montane. Nesting: in a cavity, a building, dense foliage or an abandoned bird nest; cup nest is woven with grass, twigs, leaves, fur and string; female incubates 4-5 eggs for 12-14 days. Feeding: gleans vegetation and the ground for seeds; visits feeding stations. Voice: song is a warble lasting about 3 seconds, with the last note usually rising. Similar Species: Cassin's Finch: notched tail; male has a reddish cap and finely streaked flanks; female has finely streaked underparts. Purple Finch: notched tail; male has a reddish upper back and flanks; female has a distinct cheek patch. |
