Cassin's Finch

Cassin's Finch, male

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Cassin's Finch, female

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

Slightly larger than the other red finches in North America, the Cassin's Finch is a common bird of the western mountains.

Description

• Medium-sized finch.
• Male rosy pink on head and chest; female brown and striped.
• Bill relatively long and pointed.

• Size: 16 cm (6 in)
• Wingspan: 25-27 cm (10-11 in)
• Weight: 24-34 g (0.85-1.2 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male rosy pink, female streaked brown and white.

Sound

Song a series of jumbled whistles, often with imitations of calls of other bird species. Calls "keeup" and "tidilip."

Conservation Status

Declining trends in many areas may represent normal fluctuations.

Other Names

Roselin de Cassin (French)
Gorrión de Cassin (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The male Cassin's Finch stays in its female-like plumage during its first breeding season. It sings like an older male and may give the false impression that both sexes sing.

• The Cassin's Finch is an accomplished mimic, often adding the calls of other species into its own songs.

• The Cassin's Finch breeds semicolonially, with nests on average about 25 m (82 ft) apart. Nests sometimes may occur within 1 m (3 ft). If the nests are this close the males usually fight until one of the pair gives up. If the first nest is substantially earlier than the other, however, such close nesting may be tolerated.

• The Cassin's Finch craves salt, and is often found visiting mineral deposits on the ground.

Sources used to construct this page:

Hahn, T. P. 1996. Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii). In The Birds of North America, No. 240 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.