house finch

noun

1. a small common finch, Carpodacus mexicanus, originally of the western U.S. and Mexico and now widely distributed: the males have a red forehead, throat, breast, and rump.

Word History and Origins

Origin of house finch¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Now, house finches, for instance, they have a really terrible disease that’s like pink eye, and it’s really taking them down.

From Salon

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

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

A new study of house finches led by Marissa Langager, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, uncovered a surprising result.

From Science Daily

As a result, these areas have less bird biodiversity and larger populations of synanthropic birds — species adapted to dense urban environments such as house finches and sparrows, European starlings, common pigeons and northern mockingbirds.

From Los Angeles Times