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House Finch Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    House Finches are small-bodied finches with fairly large beaks and somewhat long, flat heads. The wings are short, making the tail seem long by comparison. Many finches have distinctly notched tails, but the House Finch has a relatively shallow notch in its tail.

    Relative Size

    Same size as a House Sparrow, but more slender overall.

    Relative Sizesparrow or smallersparrow-sized or smaller

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
      • Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g)
      • Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)

Regional Differences

House Finches, particularly males, can look very different from one to another. This is largely due to differences in their diet rather than regional differences. Even though all of eastern North America’s House Finches are descended from the same few birds released on Long Island (meaning they’re much more closely related to each other than they are to birds across the West), there aren’t any strong differences in size, shape, or color between the two regions.