House Finchs in Wyoming
When house finches are present in Wyoming, when they nest, which native Wyoming plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–5b yard.
- Status in Wyoming
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–August
- Broods
- 1–6 attempts per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–5b
When to expect house finches in Wyoming
House Finchs live in Wyoming all year. Cold, very windy winters. 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.
Semi-arid high plains and basins with major mountain ranges; most towns lie above 5,000 ft.
Nesting in Wyoming
Across Wyoming, house finches typically nest from May–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.
Short, warm summers with cool nights.
- House Finchs don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native Wyoming plants that attract house finches
Of the regional native plants we track for Wyoming, these 8 provide food or cover house finches use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
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.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding house finches through the Wyoming year
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 Wyoming's winter: Cold, very windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for house finches · Best feeder for house finches
Frequently asked
Are house finches in Wyoming year-round?
Yes. House Finchs are year-round residents in Wyoming.
When do house finches nest in Wyoming?
Nesting in Wyoming typically runs May–August, with 1–6 attempts per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 13–14 days.
What native plants attract house finches in Wyoming?
Smooth sumac, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry are native plants in Wyoming that provide food or cover for house finches.
House Finchs in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wyoming
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
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Wyoming
- 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.