Finches in Florida present a vibrant and diverse avian tapestry, enchanting birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike. These small, colorful birds can be found across various habitats, from urban parks to dense forests.
Species like the House Finch, Cuban Bullfinch, and Blue Grosbeak each bring unique beauty and charm to the Sunshine State. During migration seasons, the sight of these finches adds a burst of color and life to Florida’s landscape.
This article will explore 13 common types of finches that can be found in Florida, delving into their characteristics and how to identify them.
Different Types of Finches in Florida
American Goldfinch
For novice birdwatchers, the colorful and fairly common American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is ideal. This finch is simple to recognize at 11–15 cm in length, 11–20 grams in weight, and 19–22 cm in wingspan. The male has striking black wings with white bars, vivid yellow plumage, and tails with black and white stripes. With their light brown bodies, black wings, and a hint of yellow on their throats, females are more timid.
American goldfinches are widespread in Florida during non-breeding seasons, particularly in December and January. They love feeders; they especially like sunflower and Nyjer seeds, although they stay away from insects. Use smaller species feeders to draw these bashful birds.
Their twitters, trills, and quick chirps make up a wonderful blend of their birdsong. It’s interesting to note that the American goldfinch has four subspecies: the willow goldfinch, pale goldfinch, northern goldfinch, and eastern goldfinch.
Pine Siskin
Due to its vast distribution, the Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) is a great addition to the repertoire of a novice birdwatcher. This finch is comparable in size and coloring to the American goldfinch, measuring 11 to 14 cm in length, 12 to 18 grams in weight, and 18 to 22 cm in wingspan. The body, wings, and tails of male pine siskins are clearly streaked, and their tails are shorter and have a sharp point. Females have less yellow patches but otherwise look identical.
Throughout the winter, pine siskins can be seen all over North America, including Northern Florida. They can adapt to a wide range of habitats, including deciduous woods and large fields.
These finches are drawn to bird feeders that are filled with seeds, but they also eat insects and berries. Their call is a long, sweeping one that frequently crests upward and repeats as a vibrating “zweee.”
A nice tidbit about pine siskins is that they love salt, which is something that a lot of people can identify with!
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus, often known as the House Finch, is a little bird with a length of 12–15 cm, a weight of approximately 21 grams, and a wingspan of 20–25 cm. It may be mistaken for a sparrow at first glance. Male adults have a gray-brown color with a hint of pale red on their heads; they can also appear yellowish or yellow-orange at times. The females have light brown bodies speckled with brown and white.
Due to their adaptability, these finches can be seen prospering in both rural and urban settings, including parks and buildings. They frequently travel in large groups to Florida during their southern migration. They are devoted foragers, consuming flowers, insects, and seeds.
The twee or whee-ut sound of the house finch’s recurrent warble is known as its birdsong. It’s interesting to note that bird sellers brought them to Long Island, New York, and since then, they have spread throughout the country.
Cuban Bullfinch
The Cuban Bullfinch, or Melopyrrha nigra, is 15 cm long, 19 grams in weight, and has a 25 cm wingspan. The males are visually arresting because to their remarkable black coloring and recognizable white stripe on the wing’s curvature. Juveniles and females have a narrower white stripe and are more gray-black in color.
These birds are native to Cuba and are sporadic visitors to Florida, particularly in locations with dense forests. They mostly eat fruits and the nectar of flowers; however, feeders containing seeds can also draw them in.
The birdsong of the Cuban bullfinch has a distinct trill that frequently gives way to thin, piercing chirps. Remarkably, Darwin’s finches, which are thought to have diverged from a single finch species more than a million years ago, are in the same family.
European Goldfinch
The stunning European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) has a length of 12–13 cm, a weight of 14–19 grams, and a wingspan of 21–25 cm. It is favored by finches because to its vibrant coloring. Males have a bright red face, a light brown body, pointed yellow patches on their wings, and pale beige feet and beaks. Females are similar, except their bellies are a little bit lighter and their red spots are smaller.
These birds usually live in the Midwest, so it’s rare to see them in Florida. Nonetheless, if seed feeders are stocked with nyjer seeds, committed birdwatchers may be able to identify them there in the winter.
With a characteristic pew-pew-pew pattern, their complex and beautiful songs alternate between whistles, chirps, and warbling trills. Surprisingly, throughout the Italian Renaissance, European Goldfinches were often portrayed in classical art, most famously in Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch.
Greater Antillean Bullfinch
The Greater Antillean Bullfinch (Loxigilla violacea) has a wingspan of 36 cm, a length of 16.5 cm, and a weight of 22 grams. Originating from The Bahamas and Jamaica, their remarkable appearance reflects their colorful heritage. The undertail, red throats, and “eyebrows” accentuate the black bodies of males, while females have less dramatic coloring.
Shrublands, subtropical forests, and wet lowlands are ideal habitats for these birds. They eat a variety of foods, such as seeds, flowers, and even snails.
They make characteristic tzit-tzit calls together with buzzing and zipping noises throughout their song. It’s possible that Greater Antillean Bullfinches will eventually reach Florida, even though there aren’t any official reports of them doing so.
Evening Grosbeak
The Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) is a medium-sized bird with a wingspan of 36 cm, a length of 16–22 cm, and a weight of about 60 grams. With their gray heads, yellow bodies, black-tipped wings, white patches on the sides of their wings, and pale beaks, male evening grosbeaks are visually arresting. The females’ short tails give them a characteristic “swooping” profile, while their light green-brown bodies, gray tummies, and white wing markings complete the picture.
These are migratory birds that are mostly found in North America; however, they do occasionally stop in Florida. Winter is when they are most likely to show up, frequently in big, gregarious groups.
Evening Grosbeaks eat a variety of foods, including berries, insects, and sunflower seeds. Fill the feeders in your backyard with fresh seeds to draw them in. Their birdsong is frequently confused for the call of a house sparrow due to its erratic rises and dips, which can occur in a sequence of two or three chirps.
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
The magnificent Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) has a length of 18–22 cm, a weight of approximately 35 grams, and a wingspan of 29–33 cm. One of the most exquisite birds is the male, with its brilliant red chest, black body, and white belly. With their white bellies and bodies mottled with brown and white, females resemble house sparrows.
Time of year is important for birdwatching since these grosbeaks migrate to Florida. In the winter, they prefer weedy, open areas to deciduous woodlands. A wide range of berries, insects, and nectar are part of their diet. Stock your feeders with oats, blackberries, or sunflower seeds to draw them in.
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak sings in a quiet, warbling voice that frequently sounds like a weak whistle. Remarkably, their call is occasionally confused with that of a woodpecker.
Blue Grosbeak
The Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) is a small to medium-sized bird with a wingspan of 26–29 cm. Its length is 14–19 cm and its weight is 26-31.5 grams. Males have a gray bill, gray legs, and black rings around their eyes. Their wings and back are a hazy blue color with brown undertones. Females have gray conical bills and black wing bars; they are light gray and brown in color.
These birds, which frequently live in thickets, scrubs, and forest edges, are spotted in Northern Florida during the breeding season and in Southern Florida during migration. They like to forage on the ground, where they can find fruits, seeds, and snails to eat.
Their call is warbling and melodic, with lengthy gaps in between. Remarkably, the Latin for their scientific name, caerulea, means “sky blue” or “dark blue.”
Purple Finch
The Purple Finch, or Haemorhous purpureus purpureus, is a pretty bird that has a wingspan of 25.4 cm and measures 15.2 cm in length and 34 grams in weight. The male purple finch, despite its name, has a reddish-purple head and chest that are complimented by short wings and a forked tail. The colors of the females are paler; they have a pale brown body, a white tummy, and a noticeable white ring around their eyes.
These finches are a wintertime delight in Florida, decorating the skies and living in a variety of habitats, from farms to woodlands. They are a wonderful subject for bird photographers because of their pink shine. Attracted to millet and sunflower seeds, purple finches frequent feeders where they also eat berries, beetles, caterpillars, and other insects.
In their natural habitat, their upbeat warble creates a unique tune. Notably, the purple finch is recognized as New Hampshire’s official state bird.
Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting, or Passerina cyanea, is a little but impressive bird with a wingspan of 23 to 25 cm, a length of 11.5 to 13 cm, and a weight of about 14.5 grams. With its royal blue plumage, the male indigo bunting dazzles and contrasts magnificently with its natural surroundings. Its beak is a vivid yellow, and its wings change to a gray-green color. On the other hand, the juveniles and females have wings that are somewhat striped and are colored light and dark brown.
These finches are found in Northern Florida during the nesting season, especially on wide areas and overgrown shrubbery. Though Nyjer seeds can draw them to backyard feeders, insects and seeds make up the majority of their diet.
The birdcall of the indigo bunting is a quick two-note call. It’s important to note for bird photographers that the male’s striking colors are best seen in bright light; low light might distort their appearance and make them more difficult to see.
Painted Bunting
The Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is a true marvel, measuring 12 to 14 cm in length, weighing between 13 to 19 grams, and having a wingspan of 21 to 23 cm. Known as ‘nonpareil’ in French, meaning ‘without equal’, the male painted bunting’s appearance is indeed unrivaled. They exhibit parrot-like colors with blue heads, red chests, and green wings tipped with dark edges. Females, equally enchanting, display a yellow-green hue with subtle hints of blue-gray on their wings.
In Florida, these vibrant finches can be spotted during the winter. To increase your chances of seeing them, fill your bird feeder with fresh seeds. While they also eat insects and berries, these are more commonly sought in the summer.
The complex melody of rising and descending warbles punctuated by sharp clicking chirps is the painted bunting’s song. Many times, people confuse them for tropical birds because of their vivid, eye-catching hues.
