Finches (Fringillidae)
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus. Almost entirely plant material — seeds, buds and fruit.
Finches (Fringillidae)House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus
- Scientific name
- Haemorhous mexicanus
- Length
- 5.1–5.5 in
- Weight
- 0.6–0.9 oz
- Nest
- Ledges, hanging planters, dense conifers, vines and building nooks
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 13–14 days
- Broods
- 1–6 attempts per season
Identification
- Male red to orange-red on head and breast, with blurry brown streaks on the flanks and belly
- Female plain grey-brown with blurry streaking and an unmarked face
- Fairly long, square-tipped tail and short, curved culmen
Voice
Long, jumbled warbling song often ending in a rising "zeee"; chirping calls in flight.
Diet and feeding
Almost entirely plant material — seeds, buds and fruit.
House Finchs by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | April–August |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | May–August |
| California | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Florida | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Hawaii | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Maine | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Montana | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | May–August |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | April–August |
| New York | Year-round resident | April–August |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–August |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | April–August |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | March–August |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Texas | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Utah | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–August |
| Washington | Year-round resident | April–August |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–August |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | May–August |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | May–August |
Often confused with
Frequently asked
What do house finches eat?
Almost entirely plant material — seeds, buds and fruit. At feeders: black-oil sunflower, hulled sunflower, nyjer.
How big is a House Finch?
5.1–5.5 in long and 0.6–0.9 oz.
Do house finches use birdhouses?
No. Ledges, hanging planters, dense conifers, vines and building nooks.
Sources
- House Finch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Finch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- House Finch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.