The little 5 to 6-inch House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is bright red on the crown, breast and rump. The female is light brown and streaked. Immature males are not as red, often orangish or yellowish on head and breast. The Purple Finch and Cassin's Finch are similar.
The voice is a chirp call similar to the House Sparrow. This little finch has a delightful warbling song.
The House Finch lives in chaparral, deserts and orchards, as well as canyons and suburbs and ranches of the West.
A tightly woven compact nest is set anywhere from a bush to a building. The female lays 3 to 5 blush, lightly streaked eggs. There can be two to four broods each season.
This bird is resident throughout the West, from southern Canada to southern Mexico, and east to Nebraska. It was introduced into and is now widespread in eastern North America.
House finches are omnivorous: they feed on both insect pests and on grass and weed seeds.
Order: Passeriformes | Family: Fringillidae | Species: Carpodacus mexicanus
