Pl. XL
The Birds · Plate XL
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
Fringillidae · Taxon 199840
| Length | 13–14 cm (5.1–5.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) |
| Weight | 16–27 g (0.6–0.9 oz) |
Field marks
- Small, slender-bodied finch with a fairly large, stout conical bill.
- Adult male typically rosy red on the forehead, eyebrow, throat, and upper breast; the intensity can vary toward orange or yellow.
- Brown, streaked back, wings, flanks, and tail; females and immatures are grayish-brown with diffuse streaking and no red.
- Short, rounded wings make the relatively long, shallowly notched tail conspicuous.
- Dark eye and fine dark legs; bill is pale gray to horn-colored with a curved upper profile.
HabitatSemi-open habitats including woodland edges, shrublands, grasslands, dry brushy country, farms, and human-altered areas with trees, weeds, and buildings; generally avoids unbroken forest and grassland.
BehaviorGregarious, often foraging in flocks; feeds chiefly on seeds, buds, berries, and small fruits, crushing seeds with rapid bites. Flight is bouncy and undulating.
Palette
rosy redwarm browngrayish brownbuff-whitecharcoal gray