Cassin's Finchs in Colorado
When Cassin's finches are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect Cassin's finches in Colorado
Cassin's Finchs live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, Cassin's finches typically nest from May–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.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- 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.
Native Colorado plants that attract Cassin's finches
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, 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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding Cassin's finches through the Colorado year
Mountain finch that descends to foothill feeders in winter.
- Best foods: Sunflower, Mixed seed.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for Cassin's finches · Best feeder for Cassin's finches
Frequently asked
Are Cassin's finches in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Cassin's Finchs are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do Cassin's finches nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs May–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract Cassin's finches in Colorado?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for Cassin's finches.
Cassin's Finchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
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 — Colorado
- 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.