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to the Beauty of Birds

The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is native to western North America, and has been introduced to the eastern half of the continent and Hawaii. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are placed in the genus Haemorhous.

Adults have a long, square-tipped brown tail and are a brown or dull-brown color across the back with some shading into deep gray on the wing feathers. Breast and belly feathers may be streaked; the flanks usually are. In most cases, adult males' heads, necks and shoulders are reddish. This color sometimes extends to the belly and down the back, between the wings. Male coloration varies in intensity with the seasons and is derived from the berries and fruits in its diet. As a result, the colors range from pale straw-yellow through bright orange (both rare) to deep, intense red. Adult females have brown upper parts and streaked underparts.

These photos were taken at the Alisar Ranch, Solvang, CA. They have been included here because they show so beautifully how, as covered above, the colors of the House Finch can range from bright red to bright yellow.

House Finch

House FInch Red-variant male-34.jpg

House FInch Yellow-variant male & female-25.jpg

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