FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Finches are tiny, cute, and colorful. They look absolutely adorable, like a ball of colorful fluff when they perch on your fingers.
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.
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).
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).
The weight of a finch varies depending on the species. The average weight ranges from 0.32 - 0.4 oz (8-12 g).
There are no separate names males and females.
A baby finch is called a hatchling. Finches do not kill their babies.
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.
Finches are active and very friendly. Their good temperament has made them popular pets.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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