Fun Finch Facts For Kids

Finches are small species of birds found worldwide both in the wild and in captivity. They belong to the family Fringillidae. There are many groups of finches in the world like true finches and lesser finches. They are very relevant in history, popularized by Sir Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. Each species of finch has a distinct colored plumage.

Finches have beautiful singing voices and some species like bullfinches have the ability to mimic. Finches are terrestrial birds that live in small flocks and feed on seeds, fruits, and grains. They are globally distributed and some species are even found in the border of arctic regions and some deserts. The population of finches is stable and is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.

For more relatable content, check out these house finch facts and red finch facts for kids.

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What type of animal is a finch?

A finch is a common bird found all over the world. Finches are songbirds and are popular pets. They are Passerine birds as they belong to the Order Passeriformes. Finches are classified as Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Passeriformes, Superfamily: Passeroidea, and Family: Fringillidae.

What class of animal does a finch belong to?

Finches belong to the class Aves, under which all birds fall in. There are many species of finches in the world, each believed to be evolved through adaptive radiation.

How many finches are there in the world?

Finches are a large group of Passerine birds. There are over 200 species that belong to 50 different Genus in the world. House finch alone constitutes a huge population of 40 million individuals.

Where does a finch live?

Finches are globally distributed species of bird. They live in most continents like Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. These birds are not found in Antarctica, Southern Pacific, and some islands in the Indian Ocean. Finches are an introduced species of bird in Australia and New Zealand.

What is a finch's habitat?

Finches are not very territorial except during the breeding season. They inhabit well-wooded regions, near coastal areas, and in some deserts. They are widely domesticated and easily live in a finch cage.

Who do finches live with?

Finches are found in small groups and build their nests close to one another. A group of finch is called a charm. Female finches are more dominant than males birds.

How long does a finch live?

In captivity, a finch can live up to 20 years of age given that they are provided with all necessary conditions. The average lifespan of a finch in the wild ranges from 5 - 11 years depending on the particular species.

How do they reproduce?

Finches show sexual dimorphism. Male finches display courtship behavior, they bob their heads and fluff the feathers to attract females. Male finches are more colorful than females. Breeding season varies depending on the species of finch birds. Finches are mostly monogamous during a particular breeding season, some pairs form a bond for life. The finch song is an important mating ritual. They also form breeding flocks. Finch eggs hatch over two weeks after laying.

What is their conservation status?

According to the IUCN redlist of threatened species, the conservation status of most of the Genus of finches falls under the Least Concern (LC) category.

What do finches look like?

Species of finches come in various sizes and colors. These birds have plump bodies and large, strong beaks. Most finches have a base plumage that is brownish in color with tints of red, green, blue, and purple. They usually do not have white feathers except as slight markings. Male finches are more colorful and rich in carotenoid pigments than female finches. This is a major sexual dimorphism observed in finches. They have conical-shaped bills. Female finches are smaller than male finches.

How cute are they?

Finches are tiny, cute, and colorful. They look absolutely adorable, like a ball of colorful fluff when they perch on your fingers.

How do they communicate?

Finches are very vocal songbirds, but they are not very loud. They make low chirpy noises which are not very disturbing. They chirp at each other throughout the day and this is their mode of communication. Zebra finches have a high pitch vocal call. Both males and females produce finch sounds, but males are more vocal. On the other hand, house finches make long shrilly calls. They are very noisy when flying in groups.

How big is a finch?

Finches are small passerine birds that will easily fit in the palm of your hands. The size of a finch varies depending on each Genus. Their size ranges from 3.5 -10 in (9 - 25 cm). Collared grosbeak (Mycerobas affinis) that grows up to 9.4 in (24 cm) in height is one of the largest finches found in the world. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is the largest finch species found in the UK that grow up to 5.5 in (14 cm).

How fast can a finch fly?

Finches are small and swift. Their average speed of flight is 3.5 m/s (12.6 kph). The fastest speed of flight is 7 m/s (25.2 kph).

How much does a finch weigh?

The weight of a finch varies depending on the species. The average weight ranges from 0.32 - 0.4 oz (8-12 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no separate names males and females.

What would you call a baby finch?

A baby finch is called a hatchling. Finches do not kill their babies.

What do they eat?

Finches can be picky eaters. They prefer fresh food. Most of the finches feed on seeds, grains, berries, and fruits. During the breeding season, they also feed on insects and grubs. They are mostly vegetarian in nature.

Are they friendly?

Finches are active and very friendly. Their good temperament has made them popular pets.

Would they make a good pet?

Finches are very popular pet birds. They are small, easy to handle and maintain. They require care and good food but are low-maintenance pets. Finches are chirpy, friendly, and good company. The high variety and colors of finches are an added attraction as a pet. They are recommended to be kept in pairs. A finch feeder can be easily set up at home if you don't like captivity.

Did you know...

There is a Pulitzer prize-winning novel titled 'The Goldfinch', which is based on the story of a Dutch painter. This was later adapted into a movie. It was written by Donna Tartt.

Gouldian finch is one of the most colorful finches in the world. They have red, yellow, or black colors on the head, a turquoise or light green band around the shoulders, a yellow abdomen, purple back, and wings.

Darwin's finches are very famous in history and are an important part of the study of evolution.

Types of finch

There are 50 Genus of finches in the world. Some common examples are saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola), green finch (Chloris chloris), the red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala), house finch/ red finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), red avadavat/ strawberry finch (Amandava amandava), American goldfinch/ yellow finch (Spinus tristis), purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus), and blue finch (Porphyrospiza caerulescens).

What are finches a sign of?

Finch symbolism considers them to be a spirit animal. Just like their vibrant colors, they are a symbol of high energy, happiness, and enthusiasm. Dreaming of a finch is believed to fulfill your goals and hopes. A finches' nest symbolizes protection and security.

Can you have a pet finch?

Yes, finches can be kept as pets. They are easy to care for and are easily available in pet stores along with specific finch bird houses.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these red finch facts and saffron finch facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our finch coloring pages.