House finches are small, sociable songbirds that are native to the western United States but have expanded their range significantly in the last century. They are now found across most of North America, including parts of Georgia. So the quick answer is yes, house finches do live in Georgia.
House finches are adaptable birds that thrive in urban and suburban areas. They were originally only found in western states like California, but in 1940 a small number of finches were released on Long Island, New York. From this small introduction, house finches spread rapidly across the eastern United States and Canada. They reached Georgia by the 1970s and are now well-established across the state.
In this article, we will take a closer look at house finches and their presence in Georgia. We will cover:
House Finch Overview
House finches are small-bodied finches that measure 4.7 to 6.3 inches in length and weigh between 0.6 to 0.9 ounces. They have a wingspan of 8 to 9.8 inches.
Males have bright red plumage on their heads, upper breasts, and rumps. Their red color comes from carotenoid pigments found in their diet. Females and juveniles have brown and white striped plumage. They have conical shaped bills that are adapted for eating seeds and vegetable matter.
These finches are highly gregarious and form large flocks outside of breeding season. They have bubbly, warbling songs and calls that they use to communicate. House finches breed between March and August, with the female building a cup-shaped nest and laying 3 to 6 eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days before they hatch.
Native and Introduced Range
House finches are native to the western United States and Mexico. Their native range extends from southern British Columbia in Canada to northern Oaxaca in Mexico.
In their native range, house finches occupy varied open habitats including desert, shrubland, woodland edges, and urban areas. They are found at elevations up to 9,800 feet.
As mentioned previously, house finches were introduced to the eastern U.S. in 1940. Without competition from other finches, they thrived. Their range expanded at a rate of 200 miles per year. They now occupy most of North America east of the Great Plains states.
House finches were first recorded in Georgia in the 1970s. They likely colonized the state after spreading along the Gulf Coast from introductions in Alabama and Florida.
Habitat in Georgia
House finches occupy a variety of open and urban habitats in Georgia. They do well in disturbed areas and are abundant in urban and suburban parks, gardens, and neighborhoods.
Some specific places house finches can be found in Georgia include:
Urban Areas
House finches are a common sight on bird feeders, patios, and parking lots in Georgia’s cities and suburbs. They also nest on urban structures like roof eaves, window ledges, balconies, and ventilation systems. Urban areas provide the house finch with plenty of food sources as well as nesting sites.
Parks and Gardens
House finches frequent backyard feeders as well as large parks and arboretums. They can be spotted feeding on flowers, seeds, fruits, and insects in gardens. Parks with a mix of open and wooded areas, like Piedmont Park in Atlanta, make good finch habitat.
Agricultural Areas
House finches will visit farms, orchards, and other cultivated areas across Georgia. Flocks glean seeds, grain, and insects from open agricultural fields. They also feed on buds and fruits in orchards.
Woodland Edges
House finches utilize native shrubs like wax myrtle along the edges of Georgia’s pine and mixed forests. Nesting may occur in pines, dogwoods, and other trees on woodland borders.
Coastal Areas
On the Georgia coast, house finches can be spotted on beaches, in towns, and among coastal vegetation like salt marsh and myrtle thickets. Coastal Georgia provides the mild climate and mix of open spaces finches prefer.
Diet and Feeding
House finches are primarily seed-eating birds. Some of their common food items in Georgia include:
Seeds
– Cultivated grains like millet, sorghum, wheat, and sunflower seeds
– Wild grasses and weeds like ragweed, lamb’s quarters, thistle
– Fruits and berries like mulberry, wild cherry, blackberry
– Bird feeders stocked with mixed seeds or sunflower seeds
Vegetable Matter
– Flower petals, buds, and pollen
– Leaves and shoots of plants
– Green winter wheat in agricultural areas
Insects
– Caterpillars, aphids, beetles, ants, wasps, and other small insects
– Spiders and sowbugs
– Insect eggs and larvae
House finches have also been observed drinking sap from ornamental trees and feeding on corn kernels missed during harvest. They forage for food while perched or on the ground. Ranging flocks of finches may visit backyards and feeders in Georgia during winter months.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about house finches in Georgia and beyond:
– Male house finches develop their red coloring from carotenoids in their diet. Yellow, orange, or red-pigmented fruits, seeds, and flowers all help brighten their plumage.
– House finches are highly gregarious outside of breeding season, forming flocks of hundreds or even thousands of birds. Their flocks may intermingle with other finch species.
– House finch numbers declined significantly in the eastern U.S. between 1994-1998 due to an outbreak of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis. Their populations have since rebounded.
– The house finch is Georgia’s state bird. They were designated the official state bird in 1970 following their colonization of the state.
– House finches are kept as caged birds for their lovely songs and bright colors. Males develop their brightest red plumage when fed a diet rich in carotenoids.
– The house finch mating system is described as “socially monogamous”. Pairs form bonds but may have extra-pair copulations with other finches. Pairs stay together for one breeding season but don’t remate in following years.
Conclusion
In summary, house finches are now well-established year-round residents across the state of Georgia. They thrive in the urban and suburban environments that Georgia offers in abundance. Parks, farms, coastal areas, and woodland edges also provide excellent habitat. These adaptable finches take advantage of bird feeders, seed-bearing plants, and urban nest sites. So if you live anywhere in Georgia, you’re almost guaranteed to host house finches at some point throughout the year. Keep an eye on feeders and gardens and listen for their cheerful, twittering song.
