House Finch

  The House Finch is an exceptionally adaptable species.  Once restricted to the southwest, it began to extend its range in the 1920's; following the release of caged birds in New York in 1940, House Finches spread in the East.  The birds nest in all sorts of sites -- holes in trees, among cactus spines, on the beams of buildings, and in the nests of other birds.

  The male has a bright red head, breast, and rump; female is dull brown, with faintly streaked breast and no eye stripe.

House Finch