Migration of American Red Finches

Rosefinches and Finch Migration

• Rosefinches are not exclusive to North America. There is also a subfamily of rosefinches called Asian rosefinches that are native to northern Asia. Asian rosefinches are very similar to their American counterparts, but have even more red plumage on their bodies. Some species of finch migrate, but migration is not a universal trait of finches. Most finches are actually permanent residents of the areas they inhabit. The American rosefinch is an exception to this fact. The three species of American rosefinch--house finch, Cassin's finch and purple finch--all migrate to some degree.

House Finch

• The house finch, whose scientific name is "Carpodacus mexicanus," is one of the least colorful of the American rosefinches. It is mostly grayish-brown, except for the males, which have red streaks and fed feathers on the head and neck. The birds are mostly permanent residents of the woods of the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. However, some groups may migrate south during the winter.

  The house finch came to the U.S. under interesting circumstances. The birds are actually native to Mexico, but were transported to the northeastern U.S. in the 1940s and sold (illegally) as pets. Because of laws established under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, owners were forced to release their pets, which became integrated into the local biosphere.

Cassin's Finch

• The Cassin's finch ("Carpodacus cassinii"), named after Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences curator John Cassin, have more definite migratory patterns than the other two species of American rosefinch. The birds are native to the mountains of the northwestern U.S. and southwestern Canada. However, they migrate to lower elevations and to the south in the winter, often traveling as far as central Mexico. Other Cassin's finches are permanent northern residents.

Purple Finch

• Despite its name, the purple finch ("Carpodacus purpureus") has more red plumage than either of the other two species of American rosefinch. The males of this species are tinted light red to deep red all over their bodies. The purple finch also has two subspecies, "C. p. purpureus" and "C. p. californicus." C. p. purpureus resides mostly in the northeastern U.S. and southern Canada. C. p. californicus lives in the northern Pacific area of the U.S.