Finches - any of numerous songbirds (as the sparrows, grosbeaks, crossbills, goldfinches, and buntings) that have a short stout bill adapted for crushing seeds.
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.
The family Fringillidae are the
"true" finches. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC)
recognizes these 240 species in the family, distributed among three
subfamilies and 50 genera.
Fine feature: Finches are
generally excellent singers. However, their songs can range from the
complex and beautiful repertoires of the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) to
the monotonously unmusical notes of the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus
savannarum). Many kinds of finches are kept as cage birds.
Finches are best kept in
Male-Female pairs. Single birds are fine in a larger flock of at least 3 pairs
and juveniles will happily perch and feed together right up until the hormones
kick in (around 9 weeks old).
While finches vocalize as much or
more as other types of commonly kept pet birds, they have tiny voices that do
not carry as far as those of larger birds, such as parrots. For this reason,
finches are a great choice for bird lovers who live in apartments or
condominiums.
Finch birds are songbirds who
enjoy singing and chirping. They're also quite active and can often be
seen fluttering around their enclosures. Despite being social creatures,
finches don't require much human interaction.
Formal habitat: In rural areas,
you can also find House Finches around barns and stables. In their native range
in the West, House Finches live in natural habitats including desert, desert
grassland, chaparral, oak savannah, streamsides, and open coniferous forests at
elevations below 6,000 feet.
Finches do not do very well in a
cold climate, especially the waxbills and the gouldians. They come from a very
dry and warm climate, so if they are not properly adjusted to their
current climate, they may not survive. The change of weather plus a brisk wind
is enough to send them into shock.
Unlike other types of finches,
society finches aren't found in the wild—meaning they've been bred as
pets. They're known for their friendliness and ability to chirp in a
melodious way. They are usually brown and white, with different types of
markings.
Full colors: Finches come in all sorts of
colors, from the bright reds of the cardinal finch to the more subdued hues of
the brown-headed cowbird.
Male House Finches are generally
red, but under certain circumstances, they may be orange or yellow instead.
Different subspecies may show color variations, but color differences are also
attributed to diet. When a bird is molting, its diet will determine the colors
of its new feathers.
The Gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae), also known as the Gould's finch or the rainbow finch, is a colorful passerine bird that is native to Australia.
Found all over: The finches have a near-global distribution,
being found across the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, as well as some
island groups such as the Hawaiian Islands.
Apart from the Cocos finch from
Cocos Island, the others are found only on the Galápagos Islands. The term
"Darwin's finches" was first applied by Percy Lowe in 1936,
and popularised in 1947 by David Lack in his book Darwin's Finches.
Darwin's finches from the
Galápagos archipelago have historic importance in the field of evolutionary
biology as they provided some of the fundamental insights into processes
of natural selection and adaptive radiation.
Favour some beaks: On the
Galápagos, finches evolved based on different food sources — long,
pointed beaks served well for snatching insects while broad, blunt beaks work
best for cracking seeds and nuts.
Finch beaks have evolved
into various shapes to suit particular food sources, enabling better survival
and reproduction. Beaks shaped like swords are designed for insect-eating
finches to efficiently catch and consume their prey.
Finches are generally seed eaters
that eat a variety of plant seeds, especially grasses. Depending on the
season, seed availability, insects, certain fruits, berries, and other
vegetation will constitute the bulk of a finch's diet during certain times of
the year.
Finches can live 15 to 20
years, but the more common lifespan is probably five to 10. This finch spends
most of its time foraging above ground, looking for insect larvae — its
favorite prey. It also feeds on nectar, buds, and leaves.
Friendly and lively
characteristics: Finches, in general,
symbolize happiness and energetic times ahead. This is because they come in a
variety of bright colors – yellow, red, and purple. Finches also represent
adaptability, freedom, vulnerability, and good fortune. House finches
specifically symbolize harmony in life.
The meaning and symbolism of
finches as totem animals and spirits cover a wide range of topics. Their bright
plumage and catchy songs make these little, happy birds synonymous with joy,
happiness, and optimism. Finches also represent flexibility and adaptability,
encouraging it in the face of life's changes.
Finches are very social birds
and can often be seen socializing with birds of other species. Although the Finch family is one of the
largest bird families, Finches are actually one of the smallest in the world.
Finches are often associated with joy and
cheerfulness, symbolizing the ability to find happiness in simple pleasures. The
lively and vibrant nature of finches symbolizes renewal, rejuvenation, and the
opportunity for fresh beginnings.
Finches are known for their lively
personalities. At a maximum length of approximately twenty centimeters, what
they lack in size, they make up for in their activity. For many years, finches
have been kept as pets because of their beauty and their natural ability to bring
sunshine into their owner’s lives.
I really didn't know about these kind of birds. But after reading this blog post, I got to know that the Gold Finch Hotel next to my house is named after a bird. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by
DeleteSo much information....really enjoyed reading and knowing about this bird about which the only thing I knew was the name. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete.
Glad to know that you enjoyed reading it
DeleteBeing an amateur Bird watcher, I am aware of a few facts about Finches, but I have never really heard them sing, so that's something I will try to seek in my next tour if I am lucky.
ReplyDeleteGood luck .
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading your piece on finches. Your detailed descriptions and engaging writing style made it both informative and a pleasure to read. The way you highlighted their characteristics, symbolism, and adaptability really captured my attention. You’ve painted a vivid picture of these charming birds, making them come alive on the page. Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
DeleteFlinch
ReplyDeleteI spotted a few Red-headed South African Flinch in my front garden a few days ago. At that time, I didn’t know their name or category. I opened the door, but they flew away before I could click them on my phone. They looked like small sparrows.
Your post made me recollect that incident and feel the loss of missing them on camera.
Don't worry, you will click them next time in your garden.
DeleteI've seen this bird but never knew its name and certainly not the trivia you've shared about it. Such an insightful and interesting read this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by
DeleteI love finches! In fact, I am very fond of colourful birds. I can spend hours looking at them, observing their behaviour. However, I have never planned of owing them.
ReplyDeleteNice to know about your fondness for birds.
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