Found in arid scrub and brush, thornbush, oak/juniper, pine/oak associations, chaparral
, open woodlands, towns,
cultivated lands, and savannas. Carpodacus
mexicanus
(House Finch)
Physical
Description:
5-5 3/4" (13-15 cm). Red
head and breast; streaked gray elsewhere. Thick, short bill. The female
is mostly a brownish-gray with diffuse streaks on
her breast.
Similar Species- Male Purple Finch, Male Cassin's Finch, Pine Siskin
Song:
Warbling
song with an upward, burry ending. Call is a burry chirp.
Distribution:
From
southern British Columbia, east to Idaho, Wyoming, and western Nebraska, south
to Oklahoma and Texas, and west to California, Baja California, and further
south into Mexico. Introduced in eastern United States.
Habitat
Found in arid
scrub and brush, thornbush, oak/juniper, pine/oak associations, chaparral, open woodlands, towns,
cultivated lands, and savannas.
Diet:
Eats seeds, plant buds and
blossoms, and fruits (approximately 86% of diet is seeds). Nestlings are fed
regurgitated seeds.
Ecology
Usually builds nest
in tree, but may sometimes nest in shrub or building; may also take nest from
other species. Forages on ground, or takes food from foliage. Forms flocks when not breeding.
Reproduction:
Female incubates 2-6 eggs (usually 4-5),
for 12-14 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest in 14-19 days,
and are fed by parents for 2-3 wk after leaving nest.
Conservation:
| Element Code: |
ABPBY04040 |
| Status: | Protected nongame species |
| Global Rank: | G5 |
| State Rank: | S5 |
| National Rank: | N5 |
Important
State References:
No references are available at this time.