Bird guide · Haemorhous cassinii
Cassin's Finch
What the Cassin's finch eats, where it lives, when it comes to feeders and how to recognise it – with sightings from every US state.
- Season
- Nomadic; irregular in lowlands in winter.
- Size
- 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Most common
- Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada
Food
What do Cassin's finches eat?
Roving flocks feed high in trees on buds and seeds.
Feeder that suits it
A tube or hopper feeder with sunflower seed or sunflower hearts.
Range
Where do Cassin's finches live?
Mountains and conifer forests of the West. By share of all bird sightings, Cassin's finches are most common in Idaho (0.4%).
States where Cassin's finches are most common
- Idaho0.4%
- Wyoming0.4%
- Nevada0.4%
- Utah0.3%
- Montana0.3%
- New Mexico0.3%
- Colorado0.2%
- Oregon0.1%
- Washington0.09%
- Arizona0.08%
Share of all bird sightings in each state that are Cassin's finches, 2019–2024.
Season
Does the Cassin's finch migrate?
Nomadic; irregular in lowlands in winter.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in June.
Share of all bird sightings in the US that are Cassin's finches, by month.
Identification
How to identify the Cassin's finch
Male: Sharply defined red cap and paler pink chest; dark streaks on white undertail coverts.
Female: Plain-faced, sharply streaked below, often with a pale eye-ring.
Size: 6.3 in (16 cm)
Easily confused with
- Purple Finch – slightly smaller, shorter bill
- House Finch – usually at lower elevations
On camera
Getting the Cassin's finch on a feeder camera
Any seed camera feeder works. Hang it near shrubs for cover, about five feet off the ground, with the lens facing away from direct sun.
Questions
Cassin's Finch: questions
Do Cassin's finches migrate?
Nomadic; irregular in lowlands in winter.. Across the US it is reported in every month; its share of bird sightings is highest in June.
Where do Cassin's finches live?
By share of all bird sightings, they are most common in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Montana. They are rare or absent in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia.
What does a female Cassin's finch look like?
Plain-faced, sharply streaked below, often with a pale eye-ring.