ATTRACTING HOUSE FINCHES
....Compliments of Wild Birds Forever

The House Finch is a common visitor to most backyard feeding stations. Their bright red chests and sociable behavior make them a feeder favorite! They gather together at most feeding stations enjoying your food and each others' company.

Identification

Sparrow sized at 5 - 5 3/4", the male has orange-red coloration on the crown, breast and rump with brown streaked flanks. Female has plain, unstriped head and heavy streaking on a light underside.

Range and Habitat

In the West, the House Finch ranges from Southern Canada to Southern Mexico, east to Nebraska. It was introduced to the East in the 1940's by cage-bird dealers who sold them as "Hollywood Finches" and now is widespread throughout the Eastern U.S. The House Finch is a social bird and can usually be found in small flocks.

Feeding Preferences

The diet of the House Finch consists primarily of plant food, although they will eat a few insects and feed them to their young in Spring. The House Finch's natural diet is weed seeds and occasionally fruit. They will regularly extract seed from winter berries.

House finches will nest in manmade nest boxes. Visit our nest box dimensions chart to find out the correct dimensions for this bird.

At Western feeding stations just about any feeder and type of food attracts the House Finch including suet, all types of birdseed, most fruits, bakery crumbs and nectar at hummingbird feeders.

In their Eastern range, they feed primarily on birdseed, with sunflower, thistle, white proso millet and canary seeds being their favorites, in that order.

House finches will also help themselves to suet and nectar feeders.

The best way to attract House Finches to your backyard is to offer black oil sunflower seed and a source of water.