DOCSLIB.ORG

Unsuitability of the House Finch As a Host of the Brown-Headed Cowbird’

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Unsuitability of the House Finch As a Host of the Brown-Headed Cowbird’ The Condor 98:253-258 0 The Cooper Ornithological Society 1996 UNSUITABILITY OF THE HOUSE FINCH AS A HOST OF THE BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD’ DANIEL R. KOZLOVIC Department of Zoology, Universityof Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada RICHARD W. KNAPTON Long Point Waterfowl and WetlandsResearch Fund, P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan, Ontario NOE IMO, Canada JON C. BARLOW Department of Ornithology,Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens’ Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada and Department of Zoology, Universityof Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada Abstract. Brown-headedCowbirds (Molothrus ater) parasitized99 (24.4%)of 406 House Finch (Carpodacusmexicanus) nests observed at Barrie,Guelph, Orillia, and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada,during the periods1983-1985 and 1990-1993.Hatching success of cow- bird eggswas 84.8%, but no cowbirdwas reared.Cowbird growth was severelyretarded; nestlingsrequired about twice as much time to accomplishthe sameamount of growth observedin nestsof otherhosts. Estimated final bodymass of nestlingcowbirds was about 22% lower than normal. Cowbirdnestlings survived on averageonly 3.2 days.Only one cowbirdfledged but died within one day. Lack of cowbirdsurvival in nestsof the House Finch appearsto be the resultof an inappropriatediet. We concludethat nestlingdiet may be importantin determiningcowbird choice of host. Key words: Brown-headed Cowbird; Molothrusater; House Finch; Carpodacusmexi- canus;brood parasitism; cowbirdsurvivorship; nestling diet. INTRODUCTION (Woods 1968). Like other members of the Car- The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is duelinae, House Finches are unusual among an obligate brood parasite that lays its eggsin cowbird hosts in that they feed their young pri- the nests of many host species, which provide marily plant material. The food is given to nest- parental care (Friedmann and Kiff 1985). For lings by regurgitation; it is neither partially di- parasitism to be successful,hosts must not only gested nor does it contain nutritive secretions accept and incubate cowbird eggs, (Rothstein from the adult (Newton 1972). Similar diets fed 1975) but they also must provide the nestling to cowbirds by other species are insufficient, parasite with adequate nourishment for proper which implies that the House Finch, too, would development. The food of cowbird hosts varies be unable to rear the parasite. The purpose of widely from animal to plant material (Martin et the present study was to determine the frequency al. 195 l), but almost all feed their young pri- of successfulparasitism on House Finch nesting, marily animals. Some taxa, however, feed their and hence the suitability of this speciesas a host nestlings plant material and failure of cowbird of the Brown-headed Cowbird. parasitism in the nestsof thesespecies is believed to be the result of inadequate diet (Eastzer et al. METHODS 1980, Middleton 199 1). Data were collected at sites in southern Ontario The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is in the towns of Barrie, Guelph, Orillia, and St. an occasionalhost of the Brown-headed Cowbird Catharines, from May to August 1983-l 985 and (Friedmann 1966, Friedmann et al. 1977). This 1990-1993. House Finch nests were found by finch feeds on a variety of plant materials, but systematically searching through residential most of the diet consistsof weed seeds.The few neighborhoodsfor singing territorial males or ev- animals taken are mainly aphids and caterpillars idence of nest construction. Nests were com- monly placed in ornamental conifers near dwell- ings and were positioned 0.9 to 6.0 m (X = 2.44, 1Received 20 July 1995.Accepted 10 January 1996. SD = 0.729, n = 373) above ground. Most nests 254 DANIEL R. KOZLOVIC ET AL. were easily reached using a six-foot (2 m) step- digested residue. Nonetheless, food became in- ladder. The contents of higher nests were ob- creasingly difficult to identify with age of nest- served with the aid of a small mirror positioned lings becausesamples from older young contained on the end of a telescopicpole. Parasitized nests relatively more digested food. contained cowbird eggs, cowbird nestlings or Growth coefficients were calculated for in- both. These nests were monitored daily at ap- crease in body mass based on a logistic model proximately the same time except in 1992 and of growth (Ricklefs 1984). The relative growth 1993 when nests were visited twice per week. rate, K, asymptotic body mass,and time required The fate of most cowbird nestlings was deter- to complete 10 to 90% of the asymptote, tlsgO, mined but data on their growth and survivorship were determined using nonlinear least-squares were taken only from individuals that were ob- regression(Gauss-Newton method, NLIN of SAS served daily from hatching (day 0). Cowbird Institute 1985). Because sample sizes varied nestlings in a nest were marked uniquely by toe- greatly among age groups of cowbirds, the data nail-clipping (St. Louis et al. 1989). Nestling body were weighted according to sample size. Thus, mass was measured using lo- and 50-g Pesola@ body mass values for each age group were ac- spring scalesaccurate to 0.1 and 0.25 g, respec- curately represented in the calculation of growth tively. Wing chord and length of ninth primary parameters. Cowbird growth data from Scott (tip of feather to the point of emergencefrom the (1979) were similarly analyzed. The logisticmodel skin) were taken to the nearest 0.05 mm using provided a suitable description of growth (9 ap- dial calipers. Nestlings that disappearedwere as- proximation 2 0.8433). sumed to have died in the nest, the corpsehaving been removed by the foster parents (Welty and Baptista 1988). Predation of cowbirds was ruled RESULTS out if the nest continued to hold House Finch The Brown-headed Cowbird parasitized 99 eggsand/or young. (24.4%) of 406 House Finch nests. Parasitized A nestling cardueline stores food temporarily nests contained a total of 127 cowbird eggs.Of in its distensible gullet before digestion (Newton these, 79 survived through the incubation period 1972). In House Finch nestlings the full gullet and produced 67 (84.8%) nestlings. In addition, appears as a large bulge on the right side of the 11 cowbirds of varying age were discovered after neck, the contents of which can be easily ob- they had hatched. No cowbird was successfully served through the thin, translucent skin. Initial reared in a House Finch nest. Nestlings that per- observations of House Finch diet were made by ished in the nest were either found dead there external examination of the gullet. All young ap- (35.6%), or removed (64.4%) by the foster par- peared to be receiving plant material mostly in ents. Two discarded corpseswere found on the the form of seeds.Finch and cowbird diets were ground near their respectivenests. Only one cow- studied more thoroughly by examination of nest- bird fledged. It left the nest at age 14 d but was ling feces.At St. Catharines, fresh feceswere col- found dead the following day. Proportional sur- lected from young during nest visits throughout vivorship of cowbird nestlings is shown in Figure the 199 1 breeding season.Each sample was sealed 1. The average survival time was only 3.2 d (SD in a separatevial and later stored at -20°C. Sam- = 2.87, 12= 25). Two birds did not survive be- ples were taken when House Finches and cow- yond their day of hatching, whereas only one birds were O-8 and 2-5 days old, respectively. individual survived to 14 d. One-hundred and thirteen fecal samples were Cowbird hatchlings had a mean body mass of collected from 67 House Finches at 23 nestsand 2.79 g (SD = 0.273, n = 23) and body mass four samples were taken from two cowbirds at increased in a largely linear fashion over the en- two nests. Upon examination, the samples were tire growth period (Fig. 2). Two nestlings failed moistened with 70% ethanol, teased apart with to gain mass beyond two and five days of age dissecting needles, and the constituents identi- and one individual lost mass after two days of fied under a binocular dissecting microscope. A age. The maximum nestling mass recorded was drawback of using fecal samples for the analysis 22 g. Specific growth parameters for cowbirds of diet is the fragmented nature of the food (Ro- reared by House Finches and other speciesare senbergand Cooper 1990). This is less of a con- given in Table 1. Cowbird growth was severely cern with nestlings as their feces retain an un- retardedin House Finch nests.Cowbirds achieved COWBIRD PARASITISM OF FINCH NESTING 255 0.8 I.’ .-CL ..‘ AI r 0.6 ,. 3 '2 0.4 cz 0.2 0 ~ ~ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 14 Age (days) FIGURE 1. Proportionalsurvivorship of Brown-headedCowbirds (original n = 25) from hatching(0) to 14 d in nestsof the HouseFinch. an estimated asymptotic body mass that was plant material including whole seeds,cotyledons 22.4% smaller than in nests of other hosts. The (primary embryonic leaves) and the seed coats relatively smaller growth rate, K, approximately that cover them, plant fragments and pulp. Most doubled the time required for growth. seedswere small and ranged in length from 1 to Nestling cowbirds developed teleoptiles, but 4 mm. Animals were identified in only eight barbs did not emerge from the sheaths of most (7.1%) samples and included eight mites (Acari), individuals. The single cowbird that fledged had three springtails (Collembola) and three aphids well developed plumage when it left the nest. It (Aphididae). Grit first appeared in the meals of showed substantial growth of barbs of all feather one-day-old House Finches. Samples of cowbird tracts and attained wing chord and ninth primary diet contained only plant material consisting lengths of 63.00 mm and 33.15 mm, respective- mostly of whole seeds and seed parts and ap- ly.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mt. Tabor Park Breeding Bird Survey Results 2009
    The Mount Tabor Invasive Plant Control and Revegetation Project and its affects on birds INTRODUCTION In order to reestablish a healthier native forest environment and improve the health of the watershed, a multi-year project is underway at Mt. Tabor Park to remove invasive plants. Actual removal of non-native species, the planting of native species, and other tasks began in September 2010. So as to monitor how these changes would affect the native bird species on Mt. Tabor, breeding bird and area search surveys were begun in 2009. BES created the protocol for the point counts. Herrera Environmental Consultants, Inc. set up 24 avian point count stations and conducted the initial year of surveys. Station 10 was later deemed unsuitable and data was not collected at this location. During years two and three Audubon Society of Portland conducted the surveys (2010 and 2011). Due to the large number of point count stations that had to be surveyed between dawn and midmorning, each survey was conducted over a two-day span. Full surveys were conducted three times per year during the breeding season (May 15-June 31). The following results were based on birds recorded within 50 meters of each Point Count Station. The BES Watershed Revegetation group designated 14 different units to be treated. Revegetation Unit Map: BES 3.14.12 Page 1 Point Count Station Location Map: The above map was created by Herrera and shows where the point count stations are located. Point Count Stations are fairly evenly dispersed around Mt. Tabor in a variety of habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SODN/NRTR—2013/744 ON THE COVER Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus). Photo by Moez Ali. Landbird Monitoring in the Sonoran Desert Network 2012 Annual Report Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SODN/NRTR—2013/744 Authors Moez Ali Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 230 Cherry Street, Suite 150 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Kristen Beaupré National Park Service Sonoran Desert Network 7660 E. Broadway Blvd, Suite 303 Tucson, Arizona 85710 Patricia Valentine-Darby University of West Florida Department of Biology 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, Florida 32514 Chris White Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory 230 Cherry Street, Suite 150 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Project Contact Robert E. Bennetts National Park Service Southern Plains Network Capulin Volcano National Monument PO Box 40 Des Moines, New Mexico 88418 May 2013 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colora- do, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource manage- ment, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report Series is used to disseminate results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission.
    [Show full text]
  • History of the Common Rosefinch in Britain and Ireland, 1869-1996
    HISTORY OF THE COMMON ROSEFINCH IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND, 1869-1996 D. I. M. WALLACE Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus (D. I. M. Wallace) ABSTRACT Forty-five years ago, the Scarlet Grosbeak Carpodacus erythrinus was one of those birds that (supposedly) you had to go to Fair Isle to see. It was there, on 13th September 1951, that I visually devoured my first dumpy, oddly amorphous but beady-eyed example, as it clumped about in the same crop as an immature Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala. Both were presented to me by the late Professor Maury Meiklejohn, with the nerve-wracking enjoinder ‘I can see the rosefinch’s bill and wingbars, Ian, but you will have to help with the bunting. I need to know its rump and vent colours. I’m colour blind.’ That night, the late Ken Williamson commented ‘Grosbeaks are classic drift migrants’ and I remember, too, some discussion between him and the other senior observers concerning the (then still unusual) cross-Baltic movements to Sweden in spring. Not for a moment, however, did they consider that the species would one day breed in Britain. In 1992, when the Common Rosefinch, as it is now called, bred successfully at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire and on the Suffolk coast, its addition to the regular breeding birds of Britain seemed imminent. No such event has ensued. Since the late 1970s, the number of British and Irish records has grown so noticeably in spring that this trend, and particularly the 1992 influx, are likely to be associated with the much-increased breeding population of southern Fenno-Scandia.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of the House Finch
    40 B•.ROTOLO,A Study of the House Finch. [Jan.Auk A STUDY OF THE HOUSE FINCH. BY W. H. BERGTOLD, M.D. Tus characteristic native bird of the cities and towns of Colorado is the HouseFinch (Carpodacus mexicanusfrontalis); notwithstand- ing its sweetand characteristicsong, it is commonlymistaken by the averagecitizen and visitorfor the EnglishSparrow. Previous to the advent of the English Sparrow in Denver (about 1894, accordingto the writer's notes)the only bird at all commonabout the buildingsof Denver was this finch. Before the presentextensive settlement of Colorado,the HouseFinch was, so far as one can gather from the reports of the various early exploringexpeditions, to be found mainly along the tree covered 'bottoms' of the larger streams,along the foot hills, to a small extent up the streamsinto the foot hills, and possiblyalong the streamsas they neared the east line of the state. For the past six years,the writer has systematicallyand par- ticularly studied this species,bearing in mind severalproblems concerningit; the data securedin this work is now publishedfor the first time. It seemsdesirable to sayhere that the writer aloneis responsible for eachand every note, observation,and conclusiongiven in the followingparagraphs, the samehaving been drawn entirely from his personalstudies: everythingherein followingis published without prejudiceto past observationsand conclusions. METHOD OF STUDY. Under this captionare includedthe usualgeneral observation of the bird wheneverseen in andabout the city, andspecial arrange- mentsat the officeand homeof the writer, designedto facilitate minuteobservations, and to })ringabout a moreintimate acquain- tance with the bird. The officeis on thesixth floor of a buildingsituated in the heart of the businessdistrict of Denver, and providedwith suitable foodand drinkingtrays on the windowsill.
    [Show full text]
  • Pocket Guide to Common Nesting Birds Nestwatch.Org Northern
    House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) House Finches nest in a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees as well as on cacti, rock ledges, and building ledges. WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats Desert Open Shrub Town Woodland Substrates Cliff or Live Tree In/On Rock Branch Building Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period 15 ft 13–14 12–19 days days 23 1010 ftft CupCup AltricialAltricial 65 Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) The male and female mockingbird construct their nest together; the male usually begins the nest by building the outer foundation while the female finishes up the inner lining. WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats Shrub Town Substrates Live Tree Bush or Vine or Branch Shrub Tangle Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period 10 ft 12–13 12–13 days days 2 3ft Cup Altricial 6 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Females build their nests from the inside out, pressing dead grass and twigs into a layer of mud, forming a cup shape using the wrist of one wing. WHEN TO LOOK WHERE TO FIND IT Habitats Forest Open Shrub Town Woodland Substrates Ground Post, Pole, Live Tree or Platform Branch Source: Birds of North America Online Source: Birds of North America Online WHAT YOU’LL FIND NESTING STATISTICS Nest Type Chick Clutch Size Nest Height Incubation Period Brooding Period 25 ft 12–14 13 days days 3 10 ft Cup Altricial 5 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 www.birds.cornell.edu Pocket Guide to Common Nesting Birds NestWatch.org What is NestWatch? Nest Monitoring Protocol NestWatch is a citizen-science project that monitors status • Find bird nests using the information in this guide and at and trends in the reproductive biology of birds across the NestWatch.org.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix F: Ecology F-2 Terrestrial Resources Tables Appendix F, Attachment 2
    Appendix F: Ecology F-2 Terrestrial Resources Tables Appendix F, Attachment 2 Table F-2-1 2000-2005 Breeding Bird Atlas Results for Census Blocks Common name Scientific name Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Green Heron Butorides virescens Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Osprey* Pandion haliaetus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Peregrine Falcon* Falco peregrinus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius American Woodcock Scolopax minor Rock Pigeon Columba livia Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis Bank Swallow
    [Show full text]
  • House Finch (Carpodacus Mexicanus)1
    Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office. WEC 253 Florida's Introduced Birds: House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)1 Steve A. Johnson and Jill Sox2 A wide variety of non-native birds have been introduced in Florida—perhaps as many as 200 species! Of these, at least 14 introduced species are considered established, according to various authorities, and some are now considered invasive and could have serious impacts in Florida. This fact sheet introduces the House Finch, and is one of a series of fact sheets about Florida's established non-native birds and their impacts on our native ecosystems, economy, and the quality of life of Floridians. For more information on Florida's introduced birds, how they got here, and the problems they cause, read "Florida's Introduced Birds: An Overview" (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW297) and the Figure 1. Male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) other fact sheets in this series, Credits: Ken Thomas http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ long with a wingspan of 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) topic_series_floridas_introduced_birds. and weigh approximately 1 ounce (25 g). Both males and females have brown back and wing feathers with Species Description dark streaks and white tips, and their belly or The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is a underside is white and heavily streaked with brown. member of the finch family (Fringillidae), which are House Finches have black eyes, dark brown legs, and small, seed-eating songbirds. These sparrow-like a short, brown beak with an arched top edge. The birds are common visitors to backyard bird feeders.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird List of San Bernardino Ranch in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
    Bird List of San Bernardino Ranch in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico Melinda Cárdenas-García and Mónica C. Olguín-Villa Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Abstract—Interest and investigation of birds has been increasing over the last decades due to the loss of their habitats, and declination and fragmentation of their populations. San Bernardino Ranch is located in the desert grassland region of northeastern Sonora, México. Over the last decade, restoration efforts have tried to address the effects of long deteriorating economic activities, like agriculture and livestock, that used to take place there. The generation of annual lists of the wildlife (flora and fauna) will be important information as we monitor the progress of restoration of this area. As part of our professional training, during the summer and winter (2011-2012) a taxonomic list of bird species of the ranch was made. During this season, a total of 85 species and 65 genera, distributed over 30 families were found. We found that five species are on a risk category in NOM-059-ECOL-2010 and 76 species are included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It will be important to continue this type of study in places that are at- tempting restoration and conservation techniques. We have observed a huge change, because of restoration activities, in the lands in the San Bernardino Ranch. Introduction migratory (Villaseñor-Gómez et al., 2010). Twenty-eight of those species are considered at risk on a global scale, and are included in Birds represent one of the most remarkable elements of our en- the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature vironment, because they’re easy to observe and it’s possible to find (IUCN).
    [Show full text]
  • Half a Century of Ornithology in Texas: the Legacy of Dr
    Half a Century of Ornithology in Texas: the Legacy of Dr. Keith Arnold Edited by Daniel M. Brooks Miscellaneous Publications of The Houston Museum of Natural Science, Number 7 Ecology, behavior and reproduction of an introduced population of Scaly-breasted Munias (Lonchura punctulata ) in Houston, Texas Alyssa R. Conn 1, Lynn Chamberlain 2 and Daniel M. Brooks 1 1 Houston Museum of Natural Science, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, 5555 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030-1799; e-mail: [email protected] 2 AECOM, 19219 Katy Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77094 Abstract - Results of a citizen-science project are reported to better understand potential impacts of an introduced population of Scaly-breasted Munias ( Lonchura punctulata ) in Houston, Texas. Houston records of munias accounted for 96% of all sightings in Texas. Nearly two-thirds of munias are found in urban habitats, with the remainder in more natural areas, especially parkland. A globose-shaped nest is built with young raised between early April - late September, and several nesting events are described. Munias are non-migratory, with flock size averaging 6.1 (range = 1-30), and three larger ‘mega-flocks’ are described. Munias are completely unaggressive towards other species and are observed foraging at feeders with 22 other species, of which 32% are other introduced species. The species most frequently associated with munias are House Finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ) and American Goldfinches ( Spinus tristis ) which combined represented over one-half of all associations. Frequent behaviors included foraging (38%), vocalizing (24%), and perching (16%). The most common of the 25 species of plants used for perching are oak trees ( Quercus sp.
    [Show full text]
  • House Finch Feeder of the Fledglings
    1125 W 3300 S, South Salt Lake, UT 84119 | www.jordanrivernaturecenter.org House Finch feeder of the fledglings. Females can lay anywhere Haemorhous mexicanus from 2-6 eggs per clutch, laying only one egg per day. The incubation period is 12-14 days. FEEDING AND HABITS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ House finches eat exclusively plant material like seeds, buds, and fruits from a variety of plants, including poison oak! At backyard bird feeders they will eat black oil sunflower seeds and thistle (nyjer) seed. ADAPTATIONS ​ ● Their thick strong beak allows for finches to crack open tough seed shells. ● House finches can be relatively aggressive toward other birds and are known to drive other DESCRIPTION birds away from feeders. ​ House finches are small-bodied birds with short ● They are able to make nests nearly anywhere so wings and a relatively long tail. They have large beaks house finches can live in almost any for their body size and flat heads. Males are red environment. around the face and upper breast with a streaked ECOLOGY AND STATUS brown back and tail and belly. The females have a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ brown back and indistinct head and a streaked House finches are originally native to Mexico and the brown and white belly. southwestern U.S. However, they were brought to the eastern U.S. for the pet trade and ended up RANGE ​ being released. They were able to adapt easily to House finches are native to the western United their new environment and spread rapidly across the States and were introduced in the eastern U.S. in the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nesting Biology of the House Finch in Honolulu, Hawaii
    WESTERN BIRDS Volume 6, Number 2, 1975 THE NESTING BIOLOGY OF THE HOUSE FINCH IN HONOLULU, HAWAII LAWRENCE T. HIRAI, Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 The House Finch, ½arpodacusmexicanus frontalis (Say), is a small seed-eatingpassefine found throughout western North America. It was introduced to Hawaii, probably from San Franciscoas an escapedcage- bird, prior to 1870 (Grinnell 1911). Today it is found on all the main Hawaiian islands. This was a field study of the nesting biology of the House Finch from January 1972 through July 1974, coveringthree nestingseasons. Some of the findingsare discussedin relation to what is known about HouseFinch populationsin North America. METHODS AND STUDY SITE Most of the study consistedof field observations,with almost daily checksof nests. Measurementswere madeusing a caliper,ruler, or tape measure.Weights were obtainedusing Pesola scales. To facilitate future identification, eggswere marked with a black "Shatpie" pen; nestlings were marked in 1972 with red nail polish, but in 1973 and 1974 with a red Shatpie pen, which provedmore satisfactory. Nestlingsnear fledg- ing and adults were bandedwith U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicemetal bandsand one or two plasticbands in different color combinations.Un- less otherwise indicated calculations are in the form mean + one stan- dard deviation. The 0.05 value is consideredthe level of rejection. The study site was confined to the University of Hawaii 0.4 km' main campus,located in Manoa Valley, a residentialarea in Honolulu. WesternBirds 6:33-44, 1975 33 HOUSE FINCH The House Finch is one of about 15 bird speciesfound on or near the campus.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Checklist for Saguaro National Park: Rincon Mountain District
    he Rincon Mountain District (RMD) of Saguaro √ Common name A H S √ Common name A H S √ Common name A H S TNational Park is ecologically diverse—a quality that is DUCKS AND GEESE whiskered screech-owl U WC,F S olive-sided fycatcher R Ri,D,WC,F M refected in this bird list of over 200 species. The Rincon mallard O Ri,D Y great horned owl U Ri,D,WC,F Y greater pewee C WC,F S Mountains are part of the Madrean Archipelago of “Sky TURKEYS AND QUAIL northern pygmy-owl R WC,F Y western wood-pewee C Ri,D,WC S Islands,” where the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. meet scaled quail R D,WC Y cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl O Ri,D Y willow fycatcher O Ri M Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental. The ranges of many subtropical plant and animal species (e.g., sulphur-bel- Gambel’s quail A Ri,D,WC Y elf owl C Ri,D,WC S Hammond’s fycatcher U Ri,D,WC,F M lied fycatcher, elegant trogon) reach their northernmost Montezuma quail U WC Y burrowing owl O D M gray fycatcher U Ri,D,WC W extent here. The RMD also lies at the interface of the wild turkey U Ri,WC,F Y Mexican spotted owl R WC,F Y dusky fycatcher R Ri,D,WC,F M Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and includes biological BITTERNS, HERONS AND EGRETS long-eared owl R Ri,D,WC,F M Pacifc-slope fycatcher U Ri,D,WC M elements from both.
    [Show full text]