Are house finches in Utah?

Yes, house finches are found throughout the state of Utah. The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a small songbird native to the western United States that has become established across North America over the past century. Utah provides suitable habitat for house finches in both rural and urban areas.

The house finch is a common bird originally native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. However, in the 1940s a small number of finches were released in Long Island, New York and rapidly spread across the eastern United States, eventually making their way back across the country to the West. Today house finches can be found across all of North America.

House finches are small-bodied finches, measuring 4.7 to 6.3 inches in length and weighing between 0.6 to 0.9 ounces. They have a cone-shaped beak used for eating seeds and fruit. Males have bright red plumage on their heads, upper breasts and rumps, while females have brown-streaked plumage. House finches are very social and form large flocks.

House finches thrive in areas with access to natural or artificial vegetation and food sources. They readily inhabit parks, backyards, orchards and agricultural areas. Their ability to adapt to human-altered environments enabled their rapid expansion across the continent.

Evidence of House Finches in Utah

There are several lines of evidence confirming that house finches are well-established throughout Utah:

Bird Surveys

Data from bird surveys conducted in Utah over decades show house finches observed and recorded in all counties of the state. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, which tracks bird populations across the continent, consistently records house finches in Utah counties during the breeding season. The Christmas Bird Count, which takes place during winter, also records house finches across Utah every year.

Range Maps

Maps depicting the range and distribution of house finches include the entire state of Utah within the species’ occupied range. Both the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society show house finch range covering all of Utah.

Online Checklists

Curated bird checklists for locations throughout Utah routinely include the house finch as a common species. Checklists for major cities such as Salt Lake City and Provo, national parks like Arches and Zion, and birding hotspots across the state all list the house finch.

Photographic Evidence

Citizen science databases that compile wildlife sightings contain numerous photos of house finches submitted from Utah locations. Photographic records span all regions and habitat types in Utah.

Habitat Preferences of House Finches

House finches occupy a variety of natural and human-modified habitats across Utah. Their habitat preferences include:

Urban and Suburban Areas

House finches readily inhabit urban and suburban parks, gardens, lanes and yards in cities and towns. They are a common sight at backyard bird feeders throughout Utah.

Agricultural Areas

Orchards, farms and ranches provide good habitat for house finches. They benefit from grain and seed crops and use barns and rural structures.

Riparian Areas

River and stream corridors with ample vegetation offer good habitat for house finches in Utah. They utilize both native and non-native riparian plants.

Woodland Edges

The transitional zones along the edges of wooded areas, such as ponderosa pine forests in the mountains, are used by house finches. These ecotones provide shrubs, trees and open space.

Arid Environments

House finches occupy desert and other arid environments in Utah, remaining close to isolated vegetation and sources of food and water.

House Finch Behavior and Diet

House finches display behavior and dietary preferences well-suited for the habitats they occupy:

Feeding

House finches are primarily seed-eating birds. They forage on the ground or in vegetation for a variety of seeds from plants like dandelions, thistle and sunflowers. They also eat berries, fruits and insects.

Nesting

For nesting, house finches construct open-cup nests out of twigs, stems and debris in trees, shrubs, ledges or other sheltered sites. Females lay 3-6 eggs. They may produce up to 6 broods per year.

Roosting

At night, house finches gather in large flocks to roost in dense vegetation. Urban flocks may also roost on building ledges and signs.

Socializing

House finches are highly social and congregate in large flocks for much of the year, especially during the non-breeding season. Flocks communicate with a variety of chirps and calls.

Population Status in Utah

House finch populations declined in some portions of the western United States in the early 2000s due to a conjunctivitis outbreak. However, populations rebounded across most of their range. Surveys indicate house finches remain a common species in Utah habitats.

The North American Breeding Bird Survey provides population trend data on house finches from 1966 to 2019 in Utah (Sauer et al. 2020):

The long-term trend estimate since 1966 and the estimate for the most recent decade (2009-2019) both show house finch populations increasing in Utah. Christmas Bird Count data for Utah also shows increasing numbers of house finches observed on counts in recent decades (National Audubon Society 2022).

Conclusion

In summary, extensive evidence confirms that house finches are well-established and common across the state of Utah. They occur in urban, suburban, agricultural and natural habitats throughout all regions of the state. House finch populations remain stable or increasing in Utah, indicating that the state continues to provide excellent habitat for this adaptable songbird introduced from the western United States.