4 things you didn’t know about the humble House Finch
Watching a fledgeling soar high in the sky or waking up to the chirping of birds is a joy forever and more so, if you are a bird lover. While an exotic flamingo or a hornbill may blow your mind, there are others too who fascinate you with their unique of their features. Take the humble (adorable too!) House Finch for example. Did you that it is capable of drinking more water than its body weight?
Extremely common in the US, a House Finch has a typical red forehead and reddish-pink streaks all over its lower body. This sturdy bird can survive in deserts, grasslands, shrublands and even open woodlands. However, their appearance might differ depending on their habitat. You’ll see a change in colour, body and bill size, shape, wing length and tail length.
The House Finch comes in 11 official subspecies. Also, the red patches on their forehead are merely for beautification, they serve a purpose too! These red patches help the male House Finch in attracting mates. The females are picky and prefer males with bigger and brighter red patches. So now you know that the male finch is the prettier one of the two genders, right? There are many such interesting facts about House Finch. Let's fish out some of them for you!
House Finches are aggressive in nature!
Birds are often seen surviving on grains, berries, fruits and insects. However, House Finches strictly follow a herbivore diet. They typically live off seeds, flowers and flower buds. They do not feed on insects and other such creatures. But that does not mean they are peace-loving creatures!
On the contrary, a House Finch is known to fight off other birds that try to invade its territory. In fact, wherever the House Finch population goes up, the number of House Sparrows goes down. So aggressive for such a tiny bird, isn’t it? House Finches are often seen fighting off House Sparrows to protect their food and nest sites. Turns out, a green diet does not guarantee a peace-loving nature!
They can drink more fluids than their body weight
Now we know what a House Finch’s diet is like. But did you know these birds also drink plenty of fluids, sometimes more than their body weight! Yes, you heard it right! A House Finch is capable of drinking more water than its body weight. They do so, especially on hot and humid days, to adapt well to the dry climate. When they are unable to find a water source, the arid plants in their habitat become the source of hydration. They eat the fruits and flowers of cacti, such as ocotillo and saguaros. This helps them get enough hydration without drinking directly. This is how they survive in hot, desert-like environments. However, like other birds, even the House Finch enjoys a cool water bath!
They speak in an accent!
You might have friends in school that talk in a different dialect or accent than you do! Talking to them is surely a great way to understand the cultural diversity we have in our country. But did you know that the House Finch too can talk in an accent? The male House Finches have their own songs. The length of the songs, however, varies depending on their locality. In California, the male birds sing a song that lasts for two seconds with four to 26 syllables. However, if you go to Wisconsin and Colorado, the songs last longer and get bigger. In New York, the male birds have different dialects after every square mile! Wow!
They are dealing with their own pandemic
Just like our COVID-19, the House Finch population is struggling with its own pandemic. Conjunctivitis, an eye disease, affects these birds on a large scale. It is caused by bacteria that spread rapidly. The disease was first detected in Washington, DC, during the winter of 1994 when it spread across the American continent, causing a great decline in the numbers of these tiny birds. The symptoms, including red, swollen eyes, worsen over time, leading to complete blindness. This makes the birds defenseless and vulnerable to predators, leading to their declining population.