House Finchs in Nevada

House Finchs live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward seeds and dried fruit; sunflower and nyjer at feeders.

Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.

Across Nevada, house finches typically nest from April–August. Nest site: ledges, hanging planters, dense conifers, vines and building nooks. Females lay 2–6 eggs, incubate for 13–14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–19 days.

Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.

• House Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, red-osier dogwood, rocky mountain juniper for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.

Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 8 provide food or cover house finches use:

House finches are prone to Mycoplasma conjunctivitis (swollen, crusty eyes), which spreads at feeders. Clean feeders every two weeks and take them down for a week if you see sick birds.

• Best foods: Black-oil sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Nyjer.
• In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.

Full diet breakdown for house finches · Best feeder for house finches