SpeciesFacts

All species › Birds › House Finch

House Finch

Haemorhous mexicanus

Bird · family Fringillidae · order Passeriformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
16 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
11 years[4]

The House Finch is a bird in the finch family (Fringillidae)[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the House Finch a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The bird is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where House Finch lives

NatureServe lists the House Finch as native in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas and Washington[3]. It is recorded as introduced in many more, such as New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia[9]. Reports on GBIF come most often from California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado and New York[10]. These counts follow how much people watch and report, not how many birds live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: introduced, state rank SNAMEWisconsin: introduced, state rank SNAWIVermont: introduced, state rank SNAVTNew Hampshire: introduced, state rank SNANHWashington: native, state rank S5WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNANDMinnesota: introduced, state rank SNAMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: introduced, state rank SNAMINew York: introduced, state rank SNANYMassachusetts: introduced, state rank SNAMAOregon: native, state rank S5ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5B,S5NWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S4B,S3NSDIowa: introduced, state rank SNAIAIndiana: introduced, state rank SNAINOhio: introduced, state rank SNAOHPennsylvania: introduced, state rank SNAPANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: introduced, state rank SNACTRhode Island: introduced, state rank SNARICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S5UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: introduced, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: introduced, state rank SNAMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: native, state rank S5AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: introduced, state rank SNAKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: introduced, state rank SNATNNorth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: introduced, state rank SNASCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: introduced, state rank SNALAMississippi: introduced, state rank SNAMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: introduced, state rank SNAGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5BTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (49 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
ArizonaS5Secure
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaSNANot Applicable
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaSNANot Applicable
IowaSNANot Applicable
KansasSNANot Applicable
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaSNANot Applicable
MaineSNANot Applicable
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsSNANot Applicable
MichiganSNANot Applicable
MinnesotaSNANot Applicable
MississippiSNANot Applicable
MissouriSNANot Applicable
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireSNANot Applicable
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkSNANot Applicable
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OhioSNANot Applicable
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS5Secure
PennsylvaniaSNANot Applicable
Rhode IslandSNANot Applicable
South CarolinaSNANot Applicable
South DakotaS4B,S3NApparently Secure (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)
TennesseeSNANot Applicable
TexasS5BSecure (breeding)
UtahS5Secure
VermontSNANot Applicable
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonS5Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinSNANot Applicable
WyomingS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitats for the House Finch, including hardwood, conifer and mixed woodland, shrubland, savanna, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, suburbs, orchards and streamside areas[12]. It also lives in dry scrub, chaparral, open woodland and towns[13]. It builds nests on ledges, in trees, shrubs and cactus, and in holes in trees or walls[13]. It can also use bird houses, building ledges and hanging plants[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The House Finch is a granivore, which means it mostly eats seeds[14]. In one study, seeds made up about 86% of the diet, and it also eats buds, flowers, fruit and some insects[15]. Adults are about 15 cm (6 in) long[16] and weigh about 21 g[17]. A typical clutch is 4 in AnAge, and the female incubates them for 12 to 14 days[18][19]. Both parents tend the young, which leave the nest after 14 to 19 days[19]. The oldest known banded bird was at least 11 years 7 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 15 cm (6 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 21 g (0.7 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[20] 11.6 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 11 years 7 months
Litter or clutch size[18] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 14 days
Female maturity[22] 363 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[14] Granivore
Migration[23] non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant

When to look for it

The House Finch is active during the day, which is called diurnal[24]. In the West it mostly stays put all year[25]. In the Northeast it is partly migratory, and some birds move south for winter[25]. Females tend to travel farther than males[25]. On GBIF, most records fall in February, April and May[26]. That pattern shows when people look and report, not how many birds there are[26].

January: 1,427,797 recordsJanFebruary: 1,731,418 recordsFebMarch: 1,627,125 recordsMarApril: 2,078,693 recordsAprMay: 2,250,480 recordsMayJune: 1,342,704 recordsJunJuly: 1,195,212 recordsJulAugust: 1,104,020 recordsAugSeptember: 1,166,480 recordsSepOctober: 1,337,647 recordsOctNovember: 1,195,925 recordsNovDecember: 1,274,869 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[26].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,427,797
February1,731,418
March1,627,125
April2,078,693
May2,250,480
June1,342,704
July1,195,212
August1,104,020
September1,166,480
October1,337,647
November1,195,925
December1,274,869

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record House Finch as present in 46 park units[27]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 22 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the House Finch endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the House Finch live?
It is native in 16 states, mostly in the West[3]. It is recorded as introduced in many eastern and midwestern states[9].
What does the House Finch eat?
It is a granivore, so it mostly eats seeds[14]. It also eats buds, flowers, fruit and some insects[15].
How big is a House Finch?
An adult is about 15 cm (6 in) long[16] and weighs about 21 g[17].
How long does a House Finch live?
The oldest known banded bird was at least 11 years 7 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. House Finch is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for House Finch: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists House Finch as native in 16 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild House Finch from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 11 years 7 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a bird in the family Fringillidae, order Passeriformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. House Finch is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe lists House Finch as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota,... NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of House Finch: California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe state ranks for House Finch (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for House Finch: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for House Finch. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for House Finch. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 15 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 21 g (0.7 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for House Finch. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 11.6 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 14 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 363 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. NatureServe migration category for House Finch: non-migrant, local migrant, long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  24. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  25. NatureServe notes on migration for House Finch. NatureServe Explorer
  26. GBIF observation records of House Finch in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  27. NPSpecies park lists recording House Finch as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.