House Finch

Adult males feature a bright red or orange-red forehead, throat, and breast, with brown-streaked backs and wings. Females and juveniles are plain grayish-brown with heavy, blurry streaking overall.

Adult males have red on the face and breast but brown streaking on the belly and flanks. Heavy, blunt bill.

Length: 5.1-5.5 in; Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in; Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz

A lively, high-pitched warbling song ending in a harsh downward slur; calls are a sharp 'cheep'.

Almost exclusively plant-based, primarily seeds, buds, and berries. They forage on the ground or at feeders.

Urban and suburban areas, farms, forest edges, and desert grasslands.

Resident to short-distance migrant; most populations are non-migratory.

Cup-shaped nests built in trees, cavities, or ledges of buildings. Lays 3-6 bluish-green eggs with dark spots.

Purple Finch (males have more raspberry-red on back, females have cleaner white eyebrow) and Cassin's Finch (straighter bill and peaked head).

As primary seed-eaters, they assist in seed dispersal and are a steady food source for urban predators like hawks.

Least Concern (Population stable)

Very easy to attract to backyards using sunflower seeds or nyjer. Often found in noisy flocks on power lines or in urban bushes.

The red coloration in males comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet; if they don't eat enough specific berries or seeds during molt, they may turn orange or yellow.