House Finch

Here's a House Finch that stopped by the Duke Farms bird feeder for a snack and to socialize with the other birds. This is a male, recognizable by the red coloring. They're usually pretty easy to identify; in my area only the less commonly seen Purple Finch is likely to be confused with the Houses.

House Finches have been dealing with a pandemic of their own: House Finch eye disease aka Avian Conjunctivitis. This is a bacterial disease that causes swollen eyes, sometimes to the point of blindness. Even less severe cases can impact their ability to see, and sight is very important to these birds. Some related birds (Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak) can also catch it, though I don't think it goes through their populations with such bad consequences. This disease is one of the biggest threats to our House Finch neighbors.

March 31, 2021 at Duke Farms


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