Slightly less well known than its lookalikes (House Finch and Purple Finch), the Cassin’s Finch is the characteristic rosy-tinged finch of the mountains of western North America. Small flocks twitter and forage in the tall evergreen forests and in groves of quaking aspen. Along with range and habitat, a good way to sort them out is to learn the Cassin’s Finch’s peaked head shape and thick, straight-edged bill. Males sing a rollicking song that includes mimicked calls of other birds.
Keys to identification Help
Finches
Typical Voice
Finches
Typical Voice
- Size & Shape
- Cassin’s Finches are small songbirds with peaked heads and short-medium tails. Their heavy bills are fairly long and straight-sided, and their tails are obviously notched. Their wings are long and, when perched, the tips project farther down the tail than in other finches.
- Cassin’s Finches are small songbirds with peaked heads and short-medium tails. Their heavy bills are fairly long and straight-sided, and their tails are obviously notched. Their wings are long and, when perched, the tips project farther down the tail than in other finches.
- Color Pattern
- Adult males are rosy pink overall with the most intense red on the crown. Female and immature Cassin’s Finches are brown-and-white birds with crisp, dark streaks on the chest and underparts. Both males and females have streaked undertail coverts and often show a thin, white eyering.
- Adult males are rosy pink overall with the most intense red on the crown. Female and immature Cassin’s Finches are brown-and-white birds with crisp, dark streaks on the chest and underparts. Both males and females have streaked undertail coverts and often show a thin, white eyering.
- Behavior
- Cassin’s Finches feed primarily on tree buds and seeds, and they mix with other montane finches such as crossbills and siskins. Listen for their rich, warbling song, which often includes parts of other birds’ songs, and their sweet, “tulip” call notes.
- Cassin’s Finches feed primarily on tree buds and seeds, and they mix with other montane finches such as crossbills and siskins. Listen for their rich, warbling song, which often includes parts of other birds’ songs, and their sweet, “tulip” call notes.
- Habitat
- Cassin’s Finches live in evergreen forests in the mountains up to about 10,000 feet elevation. In winter, they may move to lower elevations. They feed heavily upon seeds of pines and quaking aspen.
- Cassin’s Finches live in evergreen forests in the mountains up to about 10,000 feet elevation. In winter, they may move to lower elevations. They feed heavily upon seeds of pines and quaking aspen.
Backyard Tips
Cassin’s Finches may come to sunflower seed feeders, especially during winter. They also visit many kinds of fruiting shrubs, including cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grape, and apple. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list.
Find This BirdHead to mountain forests of evergreens and quaking aspen to look for Cassin’s Finches.
Listen for their fast, rolling songs and be alert for flocks of small seed-eating birds--
Cassin’s Finches often forage in the company of crossbills, grosbeaks, or other finches, or visit mineral deposits to eat salt.
Cassin’s Finches may come to sunflower seed feeders, especially during winter. They also visit many kinds of fruiting shrubs, including cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grape, and apple. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list.
Find This BirdHead to mountain forests of evergreens and quaking aspen to look for Cassin’s Finches.
Listen for their fast, rolling songs and be alert for flocks of small seed-eating birds--
Cassin’s Finches often forage in the company of crossbills, grosbeaks, or other finches, or visit mineral deposits to eat salt.