DVOC Main Page > Birding the Delaware Valley Region > Birds of the Delaware Valley > Species Description

House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus

From DVOC's Delaware Valley Birds: "Common visitor to feeder."

Click Here to see the accounts and photos of House Finch at VIREO's Birding Resources--Common Feeder Birds.

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Habitat:
Semi-arid lowlands, cities, suburbs and farmlands.

Status and Distribution:
Abundant resident often seen at feeders.
Range:
Most of Southern Canada, the United States and, with the exception of Southern Florida, into Mexico.


© A & J Binns


Six calls of the House Finch recorded in Southampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.
© Don Jones

Song of the House Finch recorded in Lebanon State Forest, Burlington County, New Jersey on June 10, 1997.
© Don Jones
History/State Records:
Native to the southwest they were introduced in the late 1930’s to pet dealers in New York City and in 1940 some were released into the suburbs.

First reported in Northern New Jersey in 1949, it was not confirmed breeding until 1963 in Oakhurst, Monmouth County. The first Pennsylvania record was from Norristown, Montgomery County on Dec 1, 1955 and nesting confirmed in Berks County in 1969 and in Philadelphia in 1971. First reported in Delaware on March 7, 1962, but the first breeding record wasn't until 1967.

Additional Information:
Probably declining since the early 1990’s as a result of conjunctivitis, an eye disease.