finch
Americannoun
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finches
plural
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any of numerous small passerine birds of the family Fringillidae, including the buntings, sparrows, crossbills, purple finches, and grosbeaks, most of which have a short, conical bill adapted for eating seeds.
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any of various nonfringilline birds, especially the weaverbirds of the family Ploceidae and the tropical members of the subfamily Emberizinae.
noun
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any songbird of the family Fringillidae , having a short stout bill for feeding on seeds and, in most species, a bright plumage in the male. Common examples are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, siskin, and canary
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any of various similar or related birds
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of finch
before 900; Middle English; Old English finc; cognate with Dutch vink, German Fink; akin to Greek spíngos finch
Explanation
A finch is a small songbird with its defining characteristic being its short, stout bill that is perfect for crushing seeds. Though small, the finch is a bird that made a major contribution to science. In the 1800s, biologist Charles Darwin studied several species of finches found on the Galápagos Islands, taking detailed notes about their variations. His observations of these little birds greatly contributed to Darwin's groundbreaking theory of evolution. Finches are found in various habitats, from woodlands to urban gardens, and they primarily feed on seeds.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The National Trust said Nant Ffrancon, a valley in Eryri National Park, was facing "serious ecological decline" with some species in danger of disappearing altogether, including the mountain blackbird and the mountain finch.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
When Peter shared their findings with other researchers, a fellow biologist was skeptical of Peter’s claim that a tiny difference in beak size could determine whether a finch lives or dies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
I was talking to this finch expert, and he had said, “Keep the feeders up.”
From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2025
After the eggs hatched, the baby birds received one of two treatments—road noise or zebra finch song—for another 9 nights.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 24, 2024
He watched for a moment until the carefully crafted perch inside stopped swaying and the little finch stilled the nervous flutter of its bright-colored wings.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Scientists later determined that the birds were all closely related finches whose differently shaped beaks had evolved to suit different foods.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
He famously wrote about pushing a hawk off a branch with his gun muzzle, a level of approachability that extended to other birds like finches, which ultimately became foundational to his theory of evolution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
On a recent morning, Shultz opened a wooden tray to reveal rows of house finches, a palm-sized bird commonly found in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025
Their numbers, however, have increased significantly in proportion to the backyard bird feeders that support and contribute to their prey base, from hummingbirds to house finches.
From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2024
The dew and gossamer had dried early from the grass and by midmorning the finches had fallen silent.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
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