A Long Way from Home

text and photos : Norma A. Hubbard  (December 2022)

As winter approaches and the world begins to be covered in white, it is nice to have a touch of colour, especially red. While most of us are delighted by the brilliant red of male Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), another splash of red is provided by the House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). These charming little birds are always a long-awaited sight to my feeders in the winter, but they are a long way from their native home.

Although House Finches appear to be native as they are common in our area and are charming to watch as they arrive in flocks to our feeders, they are considered an invasive species. Don’t be fooled by their cuteness, they are quite aggressive and will take over a territory from a native bird. House finches are native to Western USA and Mexico, hence the name “mexicanus”. It seems that before 1939 there was a lot of illegal bird trade, so a ban on trade came into effect to protect birds. One report listed there were about 100 females captured for every 100,000 males that were captured as male finches were more desirable for their red plumage.

Story has it, when word got out to a New York City pet shop owner that he was going to be charged for illegally selling ‘Hollywood Finches’, he decided to release his stock of House Finches on New York’s Long Island. By the following year, 1940, excited birders were reporting sightings of the House Finches; the birds had survived their first winter and continued to thrive over the years. Studies show that there were most likely thousands of illegal House Finches released and not just the stock of one shop owner. Nonetheless, within about 50 years eastern House Finches made it to the west coast to join with their cousins, and now there are populations all over the continent.

Sadly, House Finches have been facing their own pandemic since 1994. A bacterial illness, a form of conjunctivitis, commonly called House Finch eye disease has spread rapidly through their populations. Birds sometimes recover, but most do not. The illness affects Goldfinches, too, and although not as common, it does infect other bird species as well. If you notice any infected birds around your feeders and baths it is vital to clean them to help stop the spread of the disease.

Unlike most birds, House Finches are essentially vegetarians, with the only exception being to feed their young hatchlings fly larvae for the protein. At feeders they prefer black oil sunflower seeds; in the wild they eat mustard seed, thistle and other small seeds and buds, plus they love fruit such as cherries, blackberries, strawberries, pears, and plums. And the old saying, you are what you eat, is true for male House Finches, as their red pigment comes from the food they eat. It is thought that during mating, females look for the males with the brightest red colouring because those males are apparently well-fed and will be the best food providers. In fact, part of the courtship involves the male feeding the female.

While the male has lots of red, the female has a brownstreaked head with broad brown streaking on the breast and belly. Female finches are often mistakenly identified as sparrows. A female can lay two to six eggs per brood, with an average of two broods a year. The male will feed the female while she sits on her eggs, and then both parents will feed their young. House Finches often nest in coniferous trees, they also like windowsills and planters, regardless of location, all nests include a sturdy base with some sort of roof-like structure to protect the nest from sun and rain.

As this year comes to a close, and we spend time with friends and family, let’s invite these little red birds to our yards as House Finches are associated with celebration and joy, and the power to spread plenty of happiness. Finches are symbolic of freedom, optimistic energy, and adaptability, and are linked to good fortune. And finally, if you catch sight of a House Finch, remember, they are also regarded as Omens of good things to come!

Sources: All About Birds, Cornell University; Five Spiritual Symbolism & Meanings Of Finch, Miller’s Guild; National Audubon Society, Bird Field Guide; Wild Bird Watching