Fauna
Bird

House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanus

Also known as Hollywood Finch, Linnet

Male house finches earn their vibrant red plumage through carotenoid pigments ingested in their seed-rich diet, varying in hue from bright crimson to yellowish-orange depending on nutritional intake. Flocks are ubiquitous around human habitations, where they sing a cheery, warbling song year-round from perches and overhead wires. Highly social granivores, they readily frequent backyard feeders alongside other songbirds while maintaining a steady diet of wild weed seeds.

SongbirdGranivoreUrban Wildlife
House Finch reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunflower Seeds, Thistle Seeds, Weed Seeds
Predators
  • Cooper's Hawk
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Domestic Cat
ThreatsAvian eye disease (mycoplasmal conjunctivitis), window collisions, outdoor cats
HabitatsSuburbs, urban parks, deserts, shrublands, agricultural fields
Life span5–11 years
Classification
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyFringillidae
  3. GenusHaemorhous
  4. SpeciesHaemorhous mexicanus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Feeder Hygiene: Disinfect seed feeders every few weeks to prevent the spread of finch eye disease.
  • Distinction: Check the belly for heavy brown streaking to tell male house finches from purple finches.
  • Landscaping: Leave native seed heads intact during winter to provide a reliable natural food source.
Related species
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