House Finch of Florida

A recognizable and common species throughout the state

The house finch ( Haemorhous mexicanus) is an attractive bird and has adapted well to urban and suburban habitats. It is easily attracted in abundant numbers to seed feeders. It was originally a western species of the United States and Mexico in semiarid environments. Original habitats included chaparral, brush in dry country, streamside trees, woodland edges and semi-open areas.

It was introduced on Long Island, New York, in 1940 when 100 birds were released by a department store. The population grew to exceed 10 million birds by the late 1990s, populating all of the United States and southern Canada. The finch adapted to many different habitats, including farmland, cities and towns in areas with buildings, lawns, weedy areas and trees. It avoids unbroken farmland and forest. Human modifications of natural habitats with the increase of bird feeders throughout the east, including Florida, greatly benefit the house finch population. It also appears that more northern populations are migrating south in the winter.

The house finch was first officially observed in Florida near Pensacola in 1983. First breeding was documented in Tallahassee in 1988-89. This finch was reported breeding south to Tampa in 2006. Its breeding range has possibly extended farther south over the past 10 years. In Florida breeding takes place from November through April.

The male house finch has a brown crown and red forehead, throat, breast and a reddish rump. It also has a brown face, back and heavily streaked underparts. Some males may have orange or yellow colors rather than red, but females prefer males that are red in color. The red pigment is acquired by diet. Those that are yellow or orange have difficulty obtaining or assimilating enough red pigment. The female resembles the male but is totally brown streaked with an unpatterned head. Both sexes have a square tail (slightly notched).

The only bird like the house finch is the purple finch

( H. purpureus). This species is rare and only winters in Florida. The purple finch male has a rose red rump and head and brown wings and back. The female has a brown back and is heavily streaked overall. It has a bold face pattern with a distinctive brown ear patch and bold white mustache and eyebrow. Both the male and female have a short and strongly notched tail.

Courtship behavior within breeding pairs includes the male singing while following the female, fluttering its wings and hopping around the female with drooped wings, head and crest raised, and its tail raised. The female may also sing a shorter song. The song is an extensive series of warbling notes that end in a “zeeee.” It is also canary like without the musical trills.

The male feeds the female during courtship and incubation. Nests are placed in different settings such as natural or artificial cavities or bird houses. The house finch may use another species’ nests or reuse a nest for later broods (one to three per year or more). It places its nest in ivy on buildings, conifers, cactus, palms, holes in manmade structures and even hanging planters. The nest is built by the female from 5 to 35 feet above the ground. The nest is cup shaped and is made of grass, feathers, hair, twigs, rootlets, leaves, string and other debris.

Four to five pale bluish-green or bluish-white eggs marked with black or brown are laid per clutch. The female incubates the eggs for 12-14 days. The young are altricial in that they are immobile, downless, eyes are closed, and they are fed by both sexes. The young leave the nest 11-19 days after hatching.

The house finch forages in trees, shrubs, tall weeds and short weeds on the ground. Some house finches have been observed flying up to a seed cluster and “riding” a weed or grass stem to the ground, where the weight of the finch holds the stem down while it picks off the seeds. It predominantly feeds on weed seeds even during the breeding season. Other foods include tree sap and mostly seasonal vegetable matter such as flower parts, berries, buds and small fruits. Rarely does it feed on insects, and when it does they are small, such as aphids.

It feeds its young mostly regurgitated seeds. This feeding behavior makes the house finch different from other seed eaters, such as sparrows, which are highly insectivorous while breeding.

The house finch also feeds often at seed feeders, especially on oiled sunflower seeds, and at hummingbird feeders for sugar water. These small finches bring pleasure to many birders that have seed feeders in their yard.

The house finch was first officially observed in Florida near Pensacola in 1983.

William R. Cox has been a professional nature photographer and ecologist for more than 35 years. Visit him online at williamrcoxphotography.com.