The House Finch is a songbird recognized by the rosy red coloration on the males’ heads and chests. Their successful integration into urban and suburban environments is largely due to their versatile, predominantly vegetarian diet. These small birds are primarily granivores, centering their natural and supplemental food sources almost entirely around plant matter, with seeds forming the bulk of their nutrition.
The House Finch’s Favorite Seeds
When feeding House Finches, selecting the right type of seed maximizes attraction and nutritional benefit. Black oil sunflower seed is favored because its thin shell is easy for the finch’s small, conical beak to crack. These seeds are rich in fat and protein, providing a dense source of energy.
For a cleaner feeding station, hulled sunflower seeds (chips or hearts) are an excellent option that finches readily consume. Since the shell is removed, this eliminates the mess of discarded hulls beneath the feeder, though kernels may spoil more quickly in wet conditions. Another top choice is Nyjer seed, often mistakenly called thistle seed, which is a small, oil-rich seed especially attractive to all finches. House Finches generally prefer the higher oil content of sunflower and Nyjer seeds, often kicking less desirable seeds out of the feeder.
Natural Foraging and Supplemental Diet
The House Finch’s wild diet is plant-focused, with nearly 97% of their food intake derived from vegetation. In their natural habitat, they forage for a wide variety of wild seeds from weeds and grasses, including dandelions, knotweed, and wild mustard.
During spring and summer, their diet expands to include tender plant parts like flower buds and young leaves, which provide moisture and vitamins. They also readily consume small, soft fruits and berries when available, such as cherries, figs, apricots, and plums. Unlike many other songbirds, House Finches consume very few insects; only tiny arthropods are taken, mainly during the nesting season to provide protein to their young.
Harmful Foods and Feeder Safety
It is important to know which common items are harmful and should never be offered to House Finches. Foods high in salt, such as salted nuts or heavily seasoned kitchen scraps, can disrupt a bird’s fluid balance and are toxic. Other toxic items include chocolate, caffeine, and fruit pits or apple seeds, as they contain small amounts of cyanide compounds.
Avocado should also be avoided, as it contains a substance called persin that can be harmful to many bird species. Common human foods like white bread or crackers offer little nutritional value and can fill the bird up without providing necessary calories or vitamins. To prevent the spread of diseases, such as conjunctivitis, feeders should be cleaned regularly with a diluted bleach solution and allowed to dry completely before refilling with fresh, dry seed. Fresh, clean water should also be provided daily in a separate container.