The Howland
Picture Pages: House Finch The Howland
Picture Pages: House FinchPage by Royce
Last update: $Date: 2004/03/05 02:38:26 $ (UTC)
The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), originally native only in the western United States, is now common throughout the U.S. following introduction in Long Island and subsequent expansion in the east. The range of this Finch doesn't extend very far north of the border into Canada (except in British Columbia), thus historically one wouldn't see these birds very often around Calgary. They are moving in however, for example into the Weaselhead natural area, possibly somewhat at the expense of House Sparrows. In our travels to the U.S., we encounter them frequently, whether in urban or rural settings.
House Finches are fun to watch as they can be quite entertainingly active. But in contrast they are not too challenging to photograph, as they are prone to site on open perches and sing for relatively long periods of time. Often the first sign of House Finches in the area is the calling of a small group during flight. So keep an ear out for them. Also watch for the bright coloration of the male which may range from yellow to orange to red. The House Finch has a blunt tail which can be used to differentiate it from the Purple Finch, whose tail is forked.
Resources where you can find out more:
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Here is another look at a couple of orange House Finches. This shot was taken July 31, 2003 in Englewood, not far from the location of the shot below. Quite likely the birds are from the same group that hung around this area for a few weeks. These two individuals were mixed in with some Chipping Sparrows feeding in the grass along my favorite stretch of creek-side path.
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Here are a few orange-hued House Finches sitting on top of an electrical box on the evening of June 16, 2003. I was walking part of my usual route near a client site in Englewood, Colorado when I stumbled upon a group of these brightly colored birds. I tracked them awhile as they flew from one conifer to another, and eventually they stopped in the open for a few minutes. I got some photos from a bit of a distance, as dusk approached.
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