Photo: nigel from vancouver, Canada / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 21.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Haemorhous
- Species mexicanus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21.4 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Male has rosy-red head, breast and rump over a brown streaked body (red can vary to orange or yellow with diet); female is plain grayish-brown with blurry streaks and no red.
Juvenile appearance
Resembles the streaky brown female, lacking any red.
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The House Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The House Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) belongs to the Fringillidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA Canada, USA and Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21.4 g, with a wing length of about 7.7 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the House Finch?
The House Finch is a small bird that weighs around 21.4 g.
Where does the House Finch live?
The House Finch is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA Canada, USA and Mexico, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the House Finch belong to?
The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the House Finch eat?
The House Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the House Finch migrate?
The House Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the House Finch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the House Finch make?
1 real field recording of the House Finch — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the House Finch's range?
The House Finch has a mapped global range of about 10.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
How to Attract House Finch to Your Yard
The honest, data-backed way to attract House Finch to your yard — the feeders and food they actually use (black-oil sunflower), nesting help, and habitat that brings them in.
House Finch vs Purple Finch: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a House Finch from a Purple Finch — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.