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Haemorhous mexicanus

(Müller, 1776)

House Finch

G5Secure Found in 261 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100731
Element CodeABPBY04040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFringillidae
GenusHaemorhous
Synonyms
Carpodacus mexicanus(Müller, 1776)
Other Common Names
Pinzón Mexicano (ES) Roselin familier (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly merged with Carpodacus, but now treated as a separate genus on the basis of genetic data which show that the two genera are not closely related (AOU 2012 and sources cited therein).

Composed of three groups: mexicanus (Common House-Finch), mcgregori (McGregor's House-Finch), and amplus (Guadalupe House-Finch) (AOU 1998). See Banks and Browning (1995) for a discussion of the generic status of the purple, Cassin's, and house finches.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-08
Change Date1996-12-04
Range Extent Comments
Primarily resident from southern British Columbia to southern Baja California and central mainland Mexico, from the Pacific Coast to western Montana, Wyoming, western Nebraska, western Oklahoma, and western California. Introduced in the Hawaiian Islands (abundant on all main islands), and in the eastern U.S. where, subsequent to the 1940 introduction, the range has expanded throughout most of the eastern U.S. and adjacent southern Canada (Jackson 1992).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Arid scrub and brush, thornbush, oak-juniper, pine-oak association, chaparral, open woodland, towns, cultivated lands, savanna (Subtropical and Temperate zones) (AOU 1983). Nests on ledge; on branch of tree, shrub, and cactus; and in hole in tree or wall. May use nest of other species (e.g, grosbeak, cliff swallow); also may use bird house, building ledge, hanging plant, etc. Not a competitive threat to native cavity nesting birds in the eastern North America.

Ecology

See Bennett (1990) for information on the ecological relationship between the house sparrow and house finch in North America.

Reproduction

Clutch size is 2-6 (usually 4-5). Incubation, by female, lasts 12-14 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest in 14-19 days; fed by parents for 2-3 weeks after leaving nest (Hawaii).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS5Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
WisconsinSNANo
IowaSNANo
New JerseySNANo
ArizonaS5Yes
MississippiSNANo
West VirginiaS5B,S5NYes
FloridaSNANo
North DakotaSNANo
DelawareSNANo
South CarolinaSNANo
New MexicoS5B,S5NYes
South DakotaS4B,S3NYes
VirginiaSNANo
Navajo NationS5Yes
VermontSNANo
MaineSNANo
IdahoS4Yes
MichiganSNANo
KansasSNANo
New HampshireSNANo
TennesseeSNANo
OhioSNANo
OklahomaSNRYes
MarylandSNANo
AlabamaSNANo
MassachusettsSNANo
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
UtahS5Yes
GeorgiaSNANo
District of ColumbiaSNANo
ArkansasSNANo
MissouriSNANo
MinnesotaSNANo
IllinoisSNANo
New YorkSNANo
MontanaS5Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
North CarolinaSNANo
CaliforniaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaSNANo
NevadaS5Yes
LouisianaSNANo
ConnecticutSNANo
Rhode IslandSNANo
TexasS5BYes
KentuckySNANo
WashingtonS5Yes
IndianaSNANo
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
New BrunswickSNANo
British ColumbiaS5Yes
ManitobaS4B,S2NYes
Nova ScotiaSNANo
AlbertaS5Yes
QuebecSNANo
OntarioSNANo
SaskatchewanS4BYes
Prince Edward IslandSNANo
Roadless Areas (261)
Arizona (24)
AreaForestAcres
Ash CreekPrescott National Forest7,663
Big RidgeKaibab National Forest9,087
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
ChiricahuaCoronado National Forest76,876
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
Santa TeresaCoronado National Forest8,929
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
Walker MountainCoconino National Forest6,382
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Arkansas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear MountainOuachita National Forest1,910
California (85)
AreaForestAcres
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest40,911
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Boundary Peak (CA)Inyo National Forest210,884
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Cahuilla MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,952
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Elk CreekMendocino National Forest23,182
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Ferguson RidgeSierra National Forest6,104
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest450
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
Grouse LakesTahoe National Forest19,085
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North MountainStanislaus National Forest7,856
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
ScodiesSequoia National Forest725
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Idaho (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Missouri (1)
AreaForestAcres
Swan Creek Rare II Study AreaMark Twain National Forest7,310
Montana (17)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Lazyman GulchHelena National Forest11,614
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
Nevada (20)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
La Madre - TroutHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,101
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Pine Grove NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,749
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
Rose - BroncoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest868
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - VerdiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,155
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Wellington HillsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest21,009
New Mexico (28)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
CajaSanta Fe National Forest5,304
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
El InviernoSanta Fe National Forest29,927
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Guaje CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,104
Jefferies CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
Little TesuqueSanta Fe National Forest815
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
North Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
Oregon (6)
AreaForestAcres
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (37)
AreaForestAcres
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418013Uinta National Forest14,643
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
Casto BluffDixie National Forest87,466
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Flat CanyonFishlake National Forest8,663
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
North PavantFishlake National Forest53,262
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Virginia (8)
AreaForestAcres
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Horse HeavenJefferson National Forest4,748
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
Washington (6)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
TaneumWenatchee National Forest26,140
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Wyoming (11)
AreaForestAcres
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
South Wyoming RangeBridger-Teton National Forest85,776
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (23)
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  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Chesser, R.T., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2012. Fifty-third supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 129(3):573-588.
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  5. Banks, R. C., and M. R. Browning. 1995. Comments on the status of revived old names for some North American birds. Auk 112:633-648.
  6. Belthoff, J. R., and S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr. 1991. Partial migration and differential winter distribution of house finches in the eastern United States. Condor 93:374-382.
  7. Bennett, W. A. 1990. Scale of investigation and the detection of competition: an example from the house sparrow and house finch introductions in North America. Am. Nat. 135:725-747.
  8. Berger, A. J. 1981. Hawaiian Birdlife. Second Edition. University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. xv + 260 pp.
  9. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
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  12. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  13. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  14. Jackson, J. A. 1992. From Hollywood to Broadway. Birder's World, February 1992., pp. 12-15.
  15. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  16. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  17. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  18. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  19. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  20. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  21. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  22. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  23. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.