Cassin's Finch

Cassin's Finch is a medium-sized finch of high-elevation western coniferous forests, closely related to and often confused with the Purple Finch and House Finch. Adult males show a bright, sharply defined raspberry-red crown that contrasts with a paler pink-tinged face and streaked brownish back, and a distinctly peaked crown shape. Females and immatures are brown and heavily streaked above and below, distinguished from similar finches mainly by subtle head shape and facial pattern.

This species favors higher elevations than its close relatives, typically breeding in open pine and fir forests in the mountains of the interior West, and is known for its rich, varied song that sometimes incorporates mimicry of other bird species.

Key Field Marks

• Peaked, somewhat crested crown shape (versus more rounded in Purple Finch)
• Males: bright, sharply defined red-pink cap contrasting with paler streaked back and less-red face than Purple Finch
• Females: brown, crisply streaked above and below with a fairly plain face
• Straight-edged bill, slightly longer than House Finch's

Similar Species

• Purple Finch: males show a more diffuse rosy wash over the whole head and back rather than a sharply contrasting cap; females have a bolder facial pattern with a pale eyebrow and dark cheek patch.
• House Finch: red confined mostly to head and breast in males, with heavily streaked brown flanks and belly, and a more curved bill.
• Voice and elevation are useful clues: Cassin's Finch generally occurs at higher elevations in coniferous forest than the other two.

Habitat

Cassin's Finch breeds in open montane coniferous forests, particularly ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and fir, typically at higher elevations than Purple Finch or House Finch.

Range

The species is found in the mountains of the western United States and southwestern Canada, from the Rockies and Cascades to the Sierra Nevada and ranges of the Great Basin.

Migration

Cassin's Finch is a partial migrant, with many birds moving to lower elevations or somewhat farther south in winter, though some populations remain resident where food is available year-round.

Behavior

Cassin's Finches forage in flocks, particularly outside the breeding season, often high in conifer canopies or on the ground for fallen seeds, and can be seen at mineral licks in some areas.

Voice

The song is a rich, varied warble, often longer and more complex than that of the Purple Finch, sometimes including mimicked phrases from other species; the call is a distinctive "kee-up" or "tidi-lip."

Feeding

Diet includes conifer buds and seeds, berries, and insects, with a notable fondness for aspen and willow buds in early spring.

Nesting

Nests are compact cups of twigs and rootlets built high in a conifer, typically holding 4-5 eggs incubated by the female while the male provides food.