Bird Guide › Cassin's Finch

How to Identify aCassin's Finch

Haemorhous cassinii · 6.3 in (16 cm)

Male vs. female

Male

Rose-red crown standing out against a paler pink face and chest, brown streaked back, and a whitish belly with fine flank streaks.

Female

Crisply streaked brown and white with a pale eyebrow and a straight-edged bill.

Male photo: Bettina Arrigoni / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0 · Female photo: Bettina Arrigoni / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0

Quick ID

A mountain finch with a bright red peaked crown fading into a paler pink body, and crisp streaking on the flanks.

Field marks

Bright red crown patch contrasting with a paler pink face
Peaked crown giving an angular head
Straight-sided conical bill with a straight culmen
Crisp fine streaking on white flanks

Similar species

Purple Finch — Has a rounder head, curved bill edge and raspberry colour spread evenly over the head.

House Finch — Has a curved bill, blurry flank streaks and red confined to the front of the head.

What it sounds like

A rich, fast, tumbling warble that includes imitations of other mountain birds.

Behaviour that gives it away

Wanders unpredictably in mountain conifer forest, appearing in numbers one winter and vanishing the next.

Habitat & range

Mountain conifer forest of the West, descending to feeders in winter.

When you'll see it

Depending on where in western North America you are, it is present all year and a winter visitor.

What it eats

Buds, seeds and berries, plus insects in summer.

Did you know?

It routinely mimics other mountain birds in its song, weaving in phrases from jays, solitaires and even hawks.

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