Diet
What do house finches eat?
Almost entirely plant material — seeds, buds and fruit.
Finches (Fringillidae)House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus
Spring and summer diet
- Weed seeds (dandelion, thistle)
- Buds and soft fruit
Fall and winter diet
- Seeds and dried fruit
- Sunflower and nyjer at feeders
Best feeder foods
- Black-oil sunflower
- Hulled sunflower
- Nyjer
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.
Where house finches need winter food
Regions where house finches are present in the cold months:
AlabamaArizonaArkansasBritish ColumbiaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNova ScotiaOhioOklahomaOntarioOregonPennsylvaniaQuebecRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Frequently asked
What do house finches eat?
Almost entirely plant material — seeds, buds and fruit.
What is the best food to feed house finches?
Black-oil sunflower, Hulled sunflower, Nyjer.
What do house finches eat in winter?
Seeds and dried fruit; Sunflower and nyjer at feeders.
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.