We’re on month two of learning about the different types of birds in Mississippi. For February, we’re discussing the house finch. Also known as a rosefinch, these birds have a length of 6 inches and wingspan of around 9 ½ inches long. 

House finches are a common bird found in both urban and suburban areas. Males have bright, orange-red faces and breasts. They also have streaky, gray-brown wings and tails. Females, on the other hand, lack any color at all and are gray-brown all over. 

The spread of house finches to the south is quite an interesting story. House finches are not native to the southeastern parts of the United States. They were commonly found in the western U.S. and Mexico. 

In the 1940s, several New York City vendors began selling house finches but soon faced prosecution for violating a law restricting the sale of wild birds. As a result, they had to release the birds. This helped the birds to expand their territory into the eastern and southeastern U.S!

If you want to attract house finches to your yard, consider hanging tube bird feeders. They generally prefer eating out of this type of feeder because it presents seeds through a small opening perpendicular to the bird. Fill the feeder with black oil sunflower seeds, and the birds will stick around all year long.

Learn more about Mississippi’s mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians in our EkoKids: Schoolyard Nature Guides publication!

Wondering what those birds are in your backyard? These tips will help you identify your feathered visitors. 

Supplemental food is a great way to draw songbirds to your yard for viewing. Get tips on how to choose the type of bird feeders you need. You’ll also find a link to our video explaining how to adjust binoculars for bird watching.