House Finches are social birds that congregate around feeders or on high perches in trees. These birds are rarely seen alone outside of the breeding season; sometimes, they form flocks of up to several hundred birds.

House Finches vary in color depending on the region. Males are vibrantly colored in hues of red or yellow while females are a brown-gray color.

House Finches do quite well in suburbia and are even kept as pets.

Fun Facts:

• These small birds nest in a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, cactus, and rock ledges.
• House finches are early nesters, starting in March. Both males and females display a strong tendency to occupy the same breeding nest as the previous year.
• Finches nest on or on buildings in vents, street lamps, ledges, ivy, and hanging planters. They occasionally nest on the abandoned nests of other birds.
• During courtship, the male finch touches bills with the female, then presents bits of food to the female. And if she mimics the behavior of a hungry chic, the male finch feeds her.
• In the wild, house finches can live up to 11 years.
• They are adaptable, colorful, cheery-voiced, and familiar visitors to backyard feeders.
• House finches symbolize harmony in life.
• Finches were originally only residents of Mexico and the Southwestern US.
• After their introduction in the US in the 1940s, vendors and owners sold house finches illegally in New York City.
• The estimated population of house finches is between 267 million-1.7 billion across North America.