House finches are a relatively new yard bird in southern Alberta. Their inexorable colonization of the North American continent from both California and New York only brought them here within the last ten years or so.

Adult males are rosy red around the face and upper breast, with streaky brown back, belly and tail. In flight, the red rump is conspicuous. Adult females aren't red; they are plain grayish-brown with thick, blurry streaks and an indistinctly marked face.

We had four baby house finches successfully fly from their nest around a month/month and a half or so ago. In the couple days before they flew off, I noticed mamma bird building a new nest directly opposite from the first nest on my front porch. Once the babies flew off, she really got to work.

LIFE CYCLE: Finches can live 15 to 20 years, but the more common lifespan is probably five to 10. FEEDING: This finch spends most of its time foraging above ground, looking for insect larvae — its favorite prey. It also feeds on nectar, buds, and leaves.