Carpodacus mexicanus (house finch)

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Carpodacus mexicanus (Statius Muller, 1776)

Preferred Common Name

• house finch

International Common Names

• Spanish: pinzon mexicano

Summary of Invasiveness

Carpodacus mexicanus (house finch) is native to the western United States and Mexico. In 1940, wild birds illegally sold as "Hollywood Finches" in New York were released by dealers anxious to avoid prosecution, and populations now exist throughout eastern North America. In many areas, house finches are not considered a nuisance and are appreciated for their musical song and bright colours. However, they are highly adaptable to urban and suburban environments as they peck and feed on practically all deciduous fruits, berries, grains and seed. Consequently, large populations have become a nuisance, even in their native range, where they have caused economic losses in agricultural areas.

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Chordata
•             Subphylum: Vertebrata
•                 Class: Aves
•                     Order: Passeriformes
•                         Family: Fringillidae
•                             Genus: Carpodacus
•                                 Species: Carpodacus mexicanus

Description

Carpodacus mexicanus are about the same size as house sparrows. Males are brownish with a bright red breast, forehead, rump and stripe over the eye. They also have narrow dark stripes on the flanks and belly. Females are sparrow-like, with a plain head, streaked underparts and no eye stripe. House finches have a warbling song, frequently ending in harsh, nasal notes. Their chirp is similar to that of a house sparrow (Clark, J., Hygnstrom, S. 1994).

Distribution

Native range: Carpodacus mexicanus (house finches) are native to the western United States and Mexico.
Known introduced range: Carpodacus mexicanus (house finches) now occur in the western and eastern United States all year, but are absent from the Great Plains area. Introduced populations in eastern North America occur throughout the southeast in winter and in the northern areas during the breeding season (Pappas, 2002).

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Habitat

In the eastern United States, Carpodacus mexicanus (house finches) are highly adaptable to urban and suburban environments. They are especially invasive in agricultural areas. House finches are also found in open desert and desert grassland, chaparral, oak savannah, riparian areas and open coniferous forests in the western United States (Pappas, 2002). House finches nest on ledges, on branches of trees, shrubs and cactus and in holes in trees or wall (InfoNatura, 2004).

Habitat List

Biology and Ecology

Means of Movement and Dispersal

Introduction pathways to new locations
Other: In 1940, wild house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) illegally sold in New York as "Hollywood Finches" were released by dealers anxious to avoid prosecution (Pappas, 2002).

Local dispersal methods
Agriculture (local): Clark and Hygnstrom (1994) indicates that the house finch population and range expansion is aided by the presence of crop fields.

Pathway Causes

Impact Summary

Impact

General Impacts

Risk and Impact Factors

Impact mechanisms

• Herbivory/grazing/browsing

Impact outcomes

• Negatively impacts agriculture

Invasiveness

• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Proved invasive outside its native range

Uses List

General

• Pet/aquarium trade

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions

Carpodacus purpureus
Gough et al. (1998) describes how the male purple finch C. purpureus is similar in appearance to the House Finch C. mexicanus but lacks brown streaks on the breast and belly, has a more purple head, shorter forked tail, and different call notes.

Prevention and Control

Management Information 

Bibliography

Allen, R. Brittingham, M. 1997. House Finch Conjuctivitis. Pennsylvania Wildlife Series.

Clark, Jerry P. and Scott E. Hygnstrom., 2005. House Finch (Linnets) http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/HouseFinches.asp

CWBO (Chipper Woods Bird Observatory). 2003. House Finch. Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc. http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/housefinch.htm

Gough, G.A., Sauer, J.R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i5190id.html

InfoNatura, 2004. Carpodacus mexicanus. House Finch. http://www.natureserve.org/infonatura/servlet/InfoNatura?searchSciOrCommonName=carpodacus

Pappas, J. 2002. Carpodacus mexicanus (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/carpodacus/c._mexicanus$narrative.html

Tallman, D. 1997. House Finch. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

References

ISSG, 2011. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. http://www.issg.org/database

Principal Source

Global Invasive Species Database

Contributors

Reviewed by: Kevin P. B. Oh. Graduate Student. Dr. Badyaev's Lab Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona Tucson, USA.

Principal sources: Pappas, J. 2002. Carpodacus mexicanus (On-line), Animal Diversity Web.

Distribution Maps

• = Present, no further details
• = Evidence of pathogen
• = Widespread
• = Last reported
• = Localised
• = Presence unconfirmed
• = Confined and subject to quarantine
• = See regional map for distribution within the country
• = Occasional or few reports

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