Cassin's Finchs in California
When Cassin's finches are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect Cassin's finches in California
Cassin's Finchs live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, 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.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Cassin's Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as ponderosa pine, rabbitbrush, palo verde for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native California plants that attract Cassin's finches
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover Cassin's finches use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed pods and insect-rich spring bloom.
Feeding Cassin's finches through the California year
Mountain finch that descends to foothill feeders in winter.
- Best foods: Sunflower, Mixed seed.
- In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.
Full diet breakdown for Cassin's finches · Best feeder for Cassin's finches
Frequently asked
Are Cassin's finches in California year-round?
Yes. Cassin's Finchs are year-round residents in California.
When do Cassin's finches nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract Cassin's finches in California?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Palo verde are native plants in California that provide food or cover for Cassin's finches.
Cassin's Finchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- Cassin's Finch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cassin's Finch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cassin's Finch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.