Birds of the Ballpark: House Finch

Common Name: House Finch

Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus

Habitat: Native to open and desert habitats, but have expanded their range, naturally and through introductions, and now can be found in almost any kind of human-altered habitat.

Lifespan: 8-9 years (oldest recorded house finch was 11 years, 7 months old)

Length: 6 inches

Wingspan: 10 inches

Diet: Mostly seeds, buds, berries. Almost all of diet is vegetable matter. Feeds mainly on weed seeds.

The most widely distributed songbird in North America, house finches are a common sight at Avista Stadium where they feast on leftover sunflower seeds and nest in various structures throughout the ballpark. Male finches can be identified by their reddish head and breast, which comes from pigments contained in their food during molt. The male pictured on the left in this photo is attempting to “woo” a female finch through song atop the main concession stand. If the two birds pair up, they will remain monogamous and typically raise 1-3 broods per year with 3-6 eggs in each brood. Once found only in the western United States, house finches were introduced to Long Island, NY in the 1940s and quickly spread across the continent.

ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIANS

The Spokane Indians are the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies located in Spokane, Washington, and were named 2021 MiLB Organization of the Year. Avista Stadium is home to the MultiCare Kids Bench Seat. Parking at all Spokane Indians games is FREE. The Spokane Indians office and team store hours are 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Monday through Thursday and 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Fridays. On game days, the office and team store are open from 10:00 AM through the end of the game.