A medium-sized finch — males raspberry-red with brown streaking. One of three closely related "rosy finches" of the western US (with House Finch and Purple Finch).
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Cassin's finch is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are placed in the genus Haemorhous.
Source: Wikipedia — Cassin's finch Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Male has a bright crimson peaked crown that contrasts with a browner nape and a pinkish wash on the breast; female crisply streaked brown-and-white with a pale eye ring.
Similar species. Purple Finch male is more uniformly raspberry-washed; House Finch male is redder on the forehead and breast with blurry flank streaks. Cassin's has a peaked crown and crisp streaks.
Voice. A lively, warbling song with mimicry; call a dry, rising 'tee-dee-yip'.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Seeds (specialized for many species), occasional insects.
Behavior. A finch of high western conifer forest; wanders in search of conifer-seed crops and visits mountain feeders, often mimicking other birds in its song.
§ Range
Western mountain forests
§ Habitat
Coniferous mountain forests
§ Threats
Western forest loss to drought, fire, beetle outbreaks; bird feeder disease (mycoplasmal conjunctivitis).
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the cassin's finch is currently classified as Near Threatened.
§ What helps
Support mountain forest conservation. Keep feeders clean. Reduce pesticide use.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Cassin's finch
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Haemorhous cassinii
- IUCN Red List — search for Haemorhous cassinii
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Haemorhous cassinii
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
