This post is for my mom, who was on the phone with me while I looked through photos. Okay, Mom, your turn — let’s see how long it takes you to visit your or Grandmother’s computer!
This beautiful male House Finch stood guard for several minutes watching over his mate while she feasted on seeds in a feeder. He’d cock his head this way and that, looking around constantly. He never took time to preen or anything else, though he did sing a little bit (causing me to coo back at him). I was most impressed with how seriously he held watch, and his mate only felt cause to react when the paranoid White-winged Doves on the front side of the fence suddenly flew up en masse — but seeing no concern from her mate, she went right back to eating.
Here the female House Finch just sits inside the milk jug bird feeder, devouring black oil sunflower seeds. We’ve been having fun with kid projects. This is a simple version of a milk jug feeder, decorated only with stickers (held in place with non-toxic outdoor glue) — we have some fancier ones that are going to go out in the garden tomorrow, once the glue dries. On Friday, we’re having a bunch of kids over to make some for their own backyards. Fun!
I love House Finches. They are gregarious birds, and many will flock at my feeders and have great conversations with each other while they feed. Males and females feed in pairs or as part of the flock, and males will offer food to their mates during courtship. So tweet, as it were!
Here are a couple of fun facts about House Finches. The males’ red coloration comes from pigments in the food they eat, and it can play a part in a female’s preference in choosing a mate. Also, House Finches eat primarily plant foods. Even though a lot of seed-eating birds will eat insects and feed them to their young for protein, House Finches feed almost exclusively on seeds, buds, and fruits — they are considered the most vegetarian of any bird species in North America.
I’ll post details about our kid projects later. I just wanted to give a shout out to my mom, a bird lover, who better read this!
House finches are frequent visitors to our feeders. Very interesting factoid about their diet. There are plenty of berries in our front yard right now since the Mahonia berries are ripening. I’ll watch for them to grab one. I always wondered who eats all those berries. Seems like the berries linger for a long while and then disappear suddenly.
This is one of my favorite birds too — their song is so happy and wandering!
I do have problems with them once in a while: they eat my sedum leaves! I’ve also seen them eating lamb’s ear leaves that were just emerging. I’ve seen them eating tender young bamboo leaf buds too.
Goodness, it sounds like you are a happy provider for finches, Alan! Well, they might be happier than you are…
House finches are special to me also. When I lived in Shreveport, I hosted the first house finches seen there. I had friends and friends of friends show up to photograph them or just see them. They came from the Eastern Population of released cage birds – released in 1940. The next year, everyone had finches and they were no longer a big deal.
Recently they met the western population near a line that runs through the Austin area. In the process, they even learned to migrate so now also breed much further north.
I admire them for their adaptability and their beautiful song. And I think many of the males look like they wear Viking helmets.
What a sweet story, Marilyn! It’s interesting the history of the finches. I’ve assumed I’ve had western House Finches, since I have them all year, but with the changes in climate and adaptations of those who’ve developed from the Eastern population, who knows?
Such cute birds, and they have such a wonderful song too.
I agree, Claire! Not everyone has decided how they feel about finches, though — thanks to humans, they’ve spread far beyond their native zone.
It only took me less than a month this time! Yes I do love birds. Last count, we have seen 51 different varieties at our 2 acre backyard in East Texas. I don’t fire up my computer often, but still love to read and look at my amazing daughter’s amazing adventures with nature. I’m so proud!
Well, hi there, Mom! I so enjoying sharing bird stories with you!
We love the house finches too… all the finches, we have many different variety of finches here in South Carolina. OUr feeder are full of them all the time.
Your site has alot fo good information and nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Michael