House Finch

Adult males feature a bright red or orange breast, forehead, and rump with brown streaking on the belly. Females are plain grayish-brown with thick, blurry streaking throughout the underparts and no red coloration.

Conical 'seed-eater' beak, square-tipped tail, blurry brown streaks on flanks, and male's red 'headlight' coloration on the brow.

Length: 5.1-6 inches, Wingspan: 8-10 inches, Weight: 16-27 grams

A lively, high-pitched warbling song ending in a harsh downward 'veeeer'. Calls include a sharp 'queet'.

Almost exclusively vegetarian; consumes seeds, buds, and berries. Frequently visits bird feeders for sunflower seeds.

Found in urban and suburban areas, farms, forest edges, and grasslands with scattered trees.

Mostly resident, though some northern populations may move slightly south or to lower elevations in winter.

Builds cup nests in trees, cacti, or on human structures like ledges and ivy. Lays 3-6 bluish-green eggs with fine dark spots.

Purple Finch (males have red on wings/back, females have stronger face patterns) and Cassin's Finch (males have brighter red crowns and distinct white eye rings).

As primary granivores, they play a role in seed dispersal. They also serve as a prey source for urban raptors like Cooper's Hawks.

Least Concern (Population stable/increasing)

Very easy to attract to backyards using black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer. They are social and usually found in small flocks rather than alone.

The intensity of the male's red plumage is derived strictly from pigments in the fruit and seeds it eats; females prefer to mate with the reddest males.