House Finch Fun Facts
Father house finch surveys the area around the nest site. Photo credit: Coral Keegan House finches create cup-shaped nests, and females do most of the prospecting (although males follow closely behind and occasionally re-examine the nesting site) Parents feed their chicks mainly plant-based food. This relatively rare, as most birds feed chicks insects and other animal protein. Eggs are white, with some dark black speckles. Typically clutch size is 2 to 6 eggs. Chicks are altricial, meaning that upon hatching they are helpless, immobile, and naked with closed eyes. Incubation period: 13 days Brooding period: 15 days Breeding period: April through early August The house finch was originally only found in the western region of the United States and Mexico. However, in 1940, a small number were set loose in Long Island, New York. They quickly spread across most of the eastern United States and southern Canada. The red colors of the male house finch come from pigments in its food...
