This morning, I went out on the back porch with my coffee in hand. As I walked out, I encountered a cheerful, bubbling warble coming from the bird feeder. A small flock of House Finches had arrived at the feeder and as they settlled, I noticed the sunrise was reflecting off their feathers. One male had a bright, rosy red crown and crest. Next to him was another male with a bright and fiery orange chest. Perched on the railing was a third male with a striking golden yellow belly.
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Check PriceYou’re not alone if you’ve seen House Finches and wondered why they look like such a jumble of colors. The answer to this puzzle has to do with their diet.
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The Diet Secret Behind the Feathers
To learn how come House Finches have many colors, we need to learn how birds grow their feathers. House Finches can’t produce their own colors because like all birds, their plumage is determined by the colors in their feathers, not by the colors in their skin. Pigments that come from their diet give color to their plumage, and natural pigments that they eat called carotenoids provide color to the skin in their feathers. Carotenoids are what make carrots and tomatoes red and orange, respectively.
Each late summer, male House Finches undergo a process called molting which requires them to generate and grow a new set of feathers. During this process, male House Finches consume carotenoid-rich foods, like wild berries, seeds, and buds, and the pigments that result from them are incorporated into the Finch’s feathers as the pigments are taken up by the Finch’s circulatory system and transported to the growing feathers. While female House Finches also eat these foods, the pigments are not incorporated into their bodies, therefore providing them with streaky brown feathers as a form of camouflage.
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Decoding the Colors at Your Feeder
When do we get to see red, orange and yellow birds at the same feeder? It all goes back to the specific combination of foods a male finch comes across during that important molting phase.
- The Adult Male House Finch comes in a deep crimson or rosy red color. These colors can show how healthy a male House Finch can be which is determined by how much he consumed during the time of feather development. A diet that is abundant in red-producing carotenoids can explain the rich color of his feathers.
- Outside of the standard colorations, finches can also appear to be orange or yellow in color. This is a simple reflection of the absence of the red pigments in food that the finch had access to during his or her molting period. If a finch lives in an area with limited availability of red pigmented foods, this may be the case. This is common for younger birds who are still developing their foraging skills. These younger finches may be collecting foods that lack the red pigmentation or are even over foraging and gorging themselves on foods that are yellow pigmented.
The bird will keep that color until his next molt a full year later. He cannot change his color mid-year, no matter what he eats at winter feeders
Identification Check: Is It Really a House Finch?
Identifying birds is not an easy task, and that’s especially true when you see a bright yellow or orange bird at your feeder. Is that a yellow House Finch? Or maybe not? Here’s a nice guide to assist you with the identification of the species.
| Bird Species | Key Color Areas | Distinguishing Features |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow/Orange House Finch | Forehead, chest, and rump | Heavy brown streaks on the belly and flanks. Thick, curved grayish beak. |
| American Goldfinch | Entire body (in summer) | Solid yellow belly with no brown streaks. Black wings with white wing bars. Small, conical beak. |
| Purple Finch | Head, breast, back, and flanks | Color looks like a raspberry wash over the whole body. Very little brown streaking on the belly. |
| Pine Siskin | Edges of wings and tail | Mostly brown and heavily streaked all over. Only flashes yellow on the wings when fluttering. Very sharp, pointed beak. |
Backyard Habitat Tips for Healthy Finches
You might be wondering if the seed you put in your feeders changes their color. Standard feeder foods like black oil sunflower seeds and safflower are incredibly healthy and provide great energy for daily survival. However, they do not contain the specific carotenoids needed to turn a House Finch red.
If you want to support healthy molting and vibrant colors in your local flock, the best approach is to plant native fruiting shrubs and trees. Plants that produce small berries in the late summer provide the exact natural pigments these birds need. Leaving a patch of wild native weeds to go to seed in the corner of your yard also offers a fantastic natural foraging ground.
House Finches come in a variety of colors, including red, orange, and yellow. Watching them adds a fun new element to your everyday bird watching. Their colors show you where they have traveled and what food sources they have used. Next time you hear that brilliant, bubbling song and spot a flash of orange or gold at your feeder, look closely to see the amazing results of nature working in your backyard!
