Finches are small songbirds found throughout North America. There are several different species of finches that call Wisconsin home during the spring and summer months to breed and raise their young. The most common finches found in the state are the House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, and Pine Siskin.
Quick Facts on Finches in Wisconsin
Here are some quick facts about finches in Wisconsin:
- There are 4 main species: House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, and Pine Siskin
- They are small-sized songbirds, usually 4-6 inches in length
- Distinctive cone-shaped bills used for cracking seeds
- Bright yellow, orange, red, or purple plumage
- Mainly granivores, eating seeds and plant materials
- Nest in trees and shrubs
- Males have more colorful plumage than females
- Form large flocks in winter months
- Migration patterns vary by species
House Finch
The House Finch is one of the most common and recognizable finch species in Wisconsin. They have a stout, conical bill and a short, notched tail.
Male House Finches have bright red heads, breasts, and rumps. Their coloring can range from pale orange to a deep, vivid red. Females have a plain brown-streaked body with a paler belly. They lack any red coloring.
House Finches measure 4.7-6.3 inches in length and have a wingspan of 8.5-11 inches. They weigh between 0.6-0.9 oz.
This species was originally native to the western United States but spread to the eastern states in the 1940s. They are now permanent residents across Wisconsin.
House Finches prefer open country edges, farms, suburbs, and parks. They readily visit bird feeders as well.
Their diet consists of seeds from grasses and weeds as well as buds, fruits, and berries. They occasionally eat insects.
Nests are open cups built from twigs, roots, and stems. They are placed in sheltered spots like tree cavities or building eaves.
House Finches may raise 2-6 broods per breeding season from April to September.
Identifying a House Finch
- Small, sparrow-sized with a short tail and notched tail feathers
- Thick, cone-shaped bill
- Red head, upper breast, and rump on males (amount of red varies)
- Plain brown body with streaking on females
- Gregarious nature, often in flocks
- Warbling, wheezy song
Purple Finch
The Purple Finch is a species that is similar to the House Finch in size and shape. They are slightly heavier though with a more robust bill and head.
Males are raspberry red on the head, breast, back and rump. This red coloring can appear more pink or purple-ish at times. Their belly and wings are whitish with heavy streaking.
Females are much duller than the males. They have a plain, blurry brown body with darker streaks and a paler head. Their bellies are whitish.
Purple Finches measure 4.7-6.3 inches in length with a wingspan of 8.7-10.2 inches. They weigh 0.6-1.1 oz.
In Wisconsin, these birds are more common in the northern part of the state and less so in the south. They prefer coniferous or mixed forests.
Seeds and buds from trees like hemlock, birch, maple, and spruce make up the bulk of their diet. Purple Finches also eat some insects.
For nesting, females build an open cup nest out of twigs, bark, moss, and grass. They are placed near the tops of evergreen trees.
Purple Finches raise one brood per season from May to July across Wisconsin.
Identifying a Purple Finch
- Stocky build with large head
- Short, notched tail
- Thick, blunt bill
- Raspberry red head and rump on males
- Streaked brown plumage on females
- Melodic, warbling song
- Forages high in treetops
American Goldfinch
The American Goldfinch is a very small finch with a slim, pointed bill. Their plumage changes dramatically between seasons.
In spring and summer, males are a bright golden yellow on the body with black wings and tail feathers. Females are a duller olive-yellow with brown wings and tail.
In fall and winter months, both sexes become more brownish-olive in color. Males retain some yellow on the face, belly and shoulder areas.
American Goldfinches measure 4.3-5.1 inches in length with a wingspan of 7.5-8.7 inches. They weigh only 0.4-0.7 oz.
These birds breed in open country across Wisconsin near fields, meadows, floodplains, and roadsides. Pine woodlands are also favored.
They mainly eat seeds from composite flowers like thistles and sunflowers. American Goldfinches occasionally eat insects as well.
Nesting takes place from mid-July through August. The nest is a neat, compact cup assembled from plant fibers and lined with thistle down. It is placed near the top of bushes or trees.
American Goldfinches have just one brood per summer across most of Wisconsin.
Identifying an American Goldfinch
- Tiny and slim-bodied
- Long, pointed wings
- Small bill
- Black wings with white markings
- Bright yellow body in summer
- Distinctive bounding flight pattern
- Melodic, tinkling song
Pine Siskin
The Pine Siskin is a small, brown-streaked finch with a touch of yellow in its plumage. Their bill is sharply pointed for extracting seeds.
Males and females have a similar appearance. Their plumage is brown overall with heavy streaking. Small patches of yellow can be found on the wings and at the base of the tail.
Pine Siskins measure 4.3-5.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 7.1-8.7 inches. They weigh just 0.4-0.6 oz.
In Wisconsin, these finches are found year-round but are more common in winter months. They prefer coniferous forests as their habitat.
Seeds of conifers like pine, spruce, and hemlock make up the bulk of their diet. They also eat nyjer, thistle, and sunflower seeds from backyard feeders.
For nesting, Pine Siskins build a small cup nest out of grasses, twigs, and rootlets. It is placed near the end of a conifer branch, hidden amongst the needles.
They may raise one or two broods per season from May to July in Wisconsin’s Northwoods region.
Identifying a Pine Siskin
- Small and slender
- Sharply pointed bill
- Heavy brown streaking
- Small patches of yellow on wings and tail
- Forked tail
- Fast, erratic flight
- High-pitched, buzzy trills
When and Where to See Finches
The best opportunities to spot finches in Wisconsin will be during the spring and summer months when they are breeding in the state.
Some key places and times to spot the main finch species are:
Species | Where to See | When to See |
---|---|---|
House Finch | Backyards, parks, farms, towns | Year-round |
Purple Finch | Coniferous and mixed forests in north | April – July |
American Goldfinch | Fields, meadows, floodplains | May – September |
Pine Siskin | Coniferous woods | May – August |
During the winter months, finches may form large mixed flocks that travel around in search of food. Backyard bird feeders will attract winter finches like the Pine Siskin and Purple Finch to areas with supplemental feed.
Conclusion
There are four main species of finches that inhabit Wisconsin during the breeding season – House Finch, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, and Pine Siskin. The males of each species possess colorful plumage in hues of red, purple, yellow, and olive that can help distinguish them.
Finches frequent a variety of semi-open and wooded habitats across the state. Watch for them in forests, parks, backyards, farms, fields, and meadows. Late summer is when they are most abundant as they finish up nesting and congregate in flocks.
With their small size, musical voices, and colorful feathers, finches add a real charm to the avifauna of Wisconsin.