Summer Finches

Enjoy this rainbow of colors among the birds of Fringillidae, the finch family …

Can you detect what these different species have in common? It’s the cone-shaped bill, adapted for eating seeds.

My favorite finch, a summer resident of Eastern North Carolina, is the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). Here’s the male bird in all his glory …

The female is also a pretty bird, but a bit dull in comparison to the male…

Although they are related, look at the difference in size between the American Goldfinch and the Northern Cardinal …

Another of the larger members of the finch family is the Rufous-sided Towhee, (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) …

Here’s a Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) at a bird feeder. Note that the bill of this bird is more slender than that of other finches.

Much more abundant, the House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), is a gregarious, year-round resident. Comfortable around human structures, this bird is a regular at bird feeders. As the name indicates, the House Finch nests on or near buildings.

Did you notice that some male House Finches seem much redder than others? That redness comes from eating more red-colored food. It is said that the females prefer to mate with the reddest male they can find. Here’s the reddest male I’ve encountered so far…

Here’s a juvenile male, developing his red plumage…

Special Relatives

At the local PetSmart store, I encountered some exotic finches. These caged birds are not true finches, but are classified in the Estrildidae family, native to Australasia.

Goldfinches
Sometimes goldfinches one by one will drop
From low hung branches; little space they stop;
But sip, and twitter, and their feathers sleek;
Then off at once, as in a wanton freak:
Or perhaps, to show their black, and golden wings
Pausing upon their yellow flutterings.

-John Keats

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Read more about another member of the finch family:

• Is that a Purple Finch? >>
• Painted Bunting >>