In this article, we will explore how to attract House Finch to your yard. House finches are not only attractive but also one of the most common backyard birds in North America. There are many ways you can attract them to your yard and keep them coming back.
Table of Contents
Identification
The house finch is a small to medium-sized bird with a rosy red head, and upper breast, with a streaked brown belly, back, and tail. They can be found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains from British Columbia to southern Ontario south to Texas and Florida.
- Length: 5.0-5.5 in (12.7-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.5-0.9 oz (15-27 g)
- Wingspan: 8.0-9.8 in (20.3-25 cm)
Habitat
House Finches can be found in many habitats such as backyards, gardens, buildings, conifers, grasslands, fields, barns and woodlands.
This is a type of bird that thrives in suburban neighborhoods because they enjoy the shrubs, hedges, trees, fences, houses, and even old barns found there. They typically nest on the ground or near it but can be seen up high in the branches of bushes as well.
Food
House finches are fairly easy to maintain. They eat seeds, grubs, insects, worms, and insects eggs and are very social birds. They spend time together foraging for food. When they are eating from feeders they prefer to eat black oil sunflower seeds as well as milo and millet seeds.
Nesting
Like other birds, they also have a nest of sorts. In the wild, they use hollow tree stumps or crevices and leaves as their nests. House finches will often build their own nests. They construct an egg case under a twig or a piece of debris.
They then lay the eggs in this and cover it with feathers. After the baby finches hatch they will take up a variety of nooks and crannies where they stay until they are ready to leave the nest. When they are ready to fly, they can begin to feed on grasses and other vegetation.
How to Attract House Finch to your Yard
Trees & Shrubs that Attract House Finch
There are also several trees and shrubs that attract them. These include the evergreen conifers and evergreens. The evergreens have leaves that provide plenty of nutrition for birds of all types.
In addition, the evergreens also provide shade, and even shade for small animals and birds. This type of foliage is extremely hardy and does not easily succumb to the elements. Some trees and shrubs that can attract the house finch are Red Mulberry, Eastern Pine, Crab apple, Wild Cherry and, American Elderberry.
Flowers & Vines that Attract House Finch
The types of wildflowers that are best to use for attracting House Finches are evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs. These are all plants that are easy to grow and can provide beautiful flowers and even a colorful display of wildflowers in your yard.
Some flowers and vines that attract the house finch are daisies, lavender, holly, irises, tulips, wild blackberry, trumpet honeysuckle, New England Aster and Field Thistle.
Attracting House Finch with a Bird Feeder
One of the easiest ways to attract finches is with a bird feeder. Finches like the sounds of birds and especially the call of the female. They will follow the female caller for as long as she sings. If you have the right type of bird feeder, the male will also follow it.
There are several things you can do when feeding your birds. Here are some things to consider:
First off, there are two different styles of feeders. Some people will just hang them on a tree or attach them to an old pole. If you have a lot of trees and bushes in your yard, you will want to purchase a hanging feeder. The second style of bird feeder is called a perch. It is attached to a post or stake and is very easy to hang.
I find that it’s easiest to attract them to your backyard with hopper or tube feeders filled with black oil sunflower seeds. These birds just love it. One highly recommended feeder is the Belle Fleur Sedona Screen Feeder and it’s available on Amazon.
You should always have fresh water available, so a birdbath is a great idea. A nice birdbath is the VIVOSUN 2-in-1 Outdoor Garden Bird Bath on Amazon. It has 5-star reviews and it is a bestseller.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color are House Finches attracted to?
House Finches are attracted to the color yellow. House finches in the northeastern United States have been shown to be more likely to land on a feeder that is painted with a bright, unnatural color than one that is not. In addition, when house finches are given an option between two feeders of different colors, they tend to pick the one that is yellow over all others
What seeds do House Finches like?
House finches are not picky eaters, they will consume almost any type of seed you offer them. This includes a wide variety of both wild and commercially available seeds such as sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts and safflower seeds.
Do House Finches like black oil sunflower seeds?
House finches prefer black oil sunflower seeds to other types of seed. Black oil sunflower seeds have more protein, fat, and calories than many other varieties, which is why they’re often chosen by birds with higher metabolisms such as house finches.
Can House Finches eat worms?
House finches generally feed on seeds, berries, or fruits from trees or bushes near their habitat, They are known to be opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat anything they can find and may even make a meal out of worms, although they do not typically consume them in large quantities or on a regular basis.
What time of year do House Finches nest?
House finches are a common bird that nest in the United States and Canada. The time of year when they typically lay eggs is from April to July, but this can vary depending on their geographic location.
