Cassin's Finchs in Arizona

Cassin's Finchs live in Arizona all year. Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.

Hot Sonoran and Mojave deserts in the south and west, with pine-oak sky islands and the Colorado Plateau rising above 7,000 ft.

Across Arizona, Cassin's finches typically nest from April–July. Nest site: cup high in conifers. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 11–14 days.

Summer highs above 110°F in Phoenix and Tucson make water the single strongest attractant; the July monsoon triggers a second breeding pulse.

• Cassin's Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as rocky mountain juniper, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Of the regional native plants we track for Arizona, these 8 provide food or cover Cassin's finches use:

Mountain finch that descends to foothill feeders in winter.

• Best foods: Sunflower, Mixed seed.
• In Arizona's winter: Low deserts stay mild and host many wintering sparrows and hummingbirds; the high country gets snow.

Full diet breakdown for Cassin's finches · Best feeder for Cassin's finches