Back East, House Finches were a common species. True to their name, they’d build nests on on near houses—once in a little wooden nook in the roof over my back porch. The native Purple Finches mostly lived in the woods or more lonely places, whereas the House Finch liked company.
Here in the Mountain West, where the House Finches are native, they don’t have to worry about competition from Purple Finches. I’ve seen Cassin’s Finches, and both Lesser and American Goldfinches live here. (Along with Pine Siskins.)
But the House Finch reins supreme here, finch-wise. I like encountering them in this, their native habitat.*
*Some numbers of this species were released on Long Island in 1940, and they’ve spread throughout the east in the past 80 years.
Grandeur Peak Area List
Beginning at 8:28 a.m. (MST), I hiked several hundred feet up a mountain.
1. Black-billed Magpie**
3. House Finch*
2. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Spotted Towhee*
5. Woodhouse’s Scrub-jay
6. Pine Siskin (v)
7. Dark-eyed Junco*
8. Downy Woodpecker
Elsewhere
9. American Robin
10. Rock Pigeon
Mammals
Red Squirrel (v)
(v) Voice only
*Also elsewhere
**Voice only elsewhere
