Bird Basics
House
Finch
(Carpodacus mexicanus)
 Habits
The
House Finch has a beautiful song and can
often be heard singing. It is a suburban
bird and has adjusted well to living among
humans. In fact, it'll often nest
in hanging baskets. It will come to
nearly any type of feeder as well.
Nesting
House
Finch eggs are small and pale blue and are
laid in a loose cup of assorted materials
including grass, string, feathers and other
items it scavenges in yards. The brood
of two to six nestlings will fledge in 11-20
days. So, if you find a pair happily
raising a family in your hanging basket,
just be patient and you'll be rewarded with
more beautifully singing birds in your yard.
House Finches may have as many as three
broods a year with both parents frantically
caring for the young.
Range
While
they were originally found in the Southwest
and Mexico, in the 1940s several were released
on Long Island and they've since spread
throughout much of the nation. In
the colder regions of the country, the birds
will migrate to a slightly warmer climate
for a short period of time. They're
often found in Minnesota through December
and then return in March.
Diet
They
eat seeds, fruit and some insects, and will
visit nearly any type of feeder. Interesting
fact: the diet of the male House Finch determines
the vibrancy of its redness. Brighter
red birds have a better chance of finding
a mate than duller or orange-cast birds.
Conjuctivitis
House
Finches are highly susceptible to Conjunctivitis.
The disease will cause inflammation leading
to blindness. It is not curable and
is highly contagious to other birds.
For many years, rehabbers thought the disease
was treatable, but studies have found that
the disease merely goes into a remission
stage and will flare during times of stress.
The best way to prevent your House
Finches from contracting it is to regularly
clean your feeders and bath. If you
find a bird with swollen eyes, take it to
your nearest wildlife
rehabilitation center. In Minnesota,
WRC is
located on Dale St., in Roseville.
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