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House finch against a white background - Keep house finch away from your home with City Termite & Pest Control in Malvern, AR

House Finch

Actual Size: 5″ in length, 9″ wingspan

Characteristics: Small colorful songbirds about the same size as a house sparrow, but more slender

Habitat: Lives near settled areas such as city parks and residential backyards; will build nests in chimneys, attics, and dryer vents.

Habits:

  • House eaves, chimneys, and vents are common nest locations.
  • Social birds that collect at feeders or perch high in nearby trees.
  • When not at feeders, they feed on the ground, on weed stalks, or in trees.
  • House finches will set up nests near their food source, which can include yards and homes.


House Finches in Central Arkansas

The house finch will breed between March and August, with a breeding pair capable of having as many as six clutches of eggs in a single summer. The average amount is usually three, and the female bird will lay eggs in a shallow, cup-shaped nest that she has constructed in eaves, shrubs, buildings, hanging plants, tree cavities, and tree branches. Both parents often take care of the young birds, which will leave the nest between 12-19 days. While the male feeds the fledglings for their first two weeks of life, the female will build a new nest to begin raising the next brood. When the birds become independent, new large flocks will be formed that are capable of breeding the following spring.

House Finch Habitat

House finches live near settled habitats, such as forest edges, farms, residential backyards, urban centers, and city parks. Finches are considered social and outgoing and can be easily noticed when they are in groups. They can be seen feeding on bird feeders, perching high in nearby trees, and feeding on the ground.

House Finch Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

House finches are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act as migratory, non-game birds. Prevention and exclusion are the primary actions homeowners can take to deter house finches from nesting on their property.

House finches prefer to live outdoors but are known to build nests in garages, attics, chimneys, and dryer vents as they offer exceptional conditions for nesting. Finches enjoy fruit and seeds when foraging for food, which means they are capable of causing drastic damage to shrubs and fruit trees in a yard. They also can be messy with their droppings and nesting debris on the property. Most house finch damage is the result of their food-seeking behaviors as they peck at ripening fruit and eat the seeds of various plants. They will also eat budding blossoms and flowers, which can be disappointing to plant owners.

Contact your local bird removal experts for more information.