Finches in Ohio – 9 Ohio Finches (With Photos)

Ohio is home to many types of finches. The bright yellow American Goldfinch is common, and sometimes you can spot the rare Hoary Redpoll. In your backyard, you might see House Finches and Purple Finches. In the winter, finches like Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins visit from the Arctic.

Evening Grosbeaks add bright colors, and special feeders can attract Red and White-winged Crossbills. These nine types of finches give bird lovers a lot to enjoy all year, from city feeders to forest areas, making Ohio a great place to watch finches.

9 Finches In Ohio

Ohio’s varied landscapes are great for bird lovers, especially those who enjoy watching finches. You can see many types of finches in Ohio, from those that often visit your backyard to rare ones that come during the winter. 
Let’s dive into the world of Ohio finches and learn about nine fascinating species you might encounter.

American Goldfinch: 

American Goldfinches are one of the few birds that get new feathers two times each year.Changing from their dull winter plumage to bright breeding colors in spring.

The American Goldfinch, Ohio’s state bird, is a true gem in the avian world. These bright yellow birds with black wings are a common sight at feeders and in open fields.

Spotting the Goldfinch:

• Summer: Males sport bright yellow feathers with black caps
• Winter: Both sexes turn olive-brown
• Where to look: Thistle feeders, sunflower fields, gardens

American Goldfinches love thistle and nyjer seeds. Set up a special feeder, and you’ll likely attract these cheerful birds to your yard.

“The American Goldfinch’s bright colors and cheery song make it a favorite among Ohio birders.” – Ohio Ornithological Society

Fun Fact

Goldfinches are one of the latest nesting birds, often waiting until mid-summer when thistle plants produce seeds and fluff for nest-building.

House Finch: 

House Finches are common visitors to Ohio bird feeders. These birds live easily in towns and neighborhoods.House Finches look a lot like House Sparrows, so it can be easy to mix them up.

Identifying House Finches

• Males: Reddish heads and breasts
• Females: Brown and streaky all over
• Both: Have notched tails

House Finches love sunflower seeds. Fill your feeder with these, and you’ll likely see a flock soon!

These Finches can copy the songs of other birds and sometimes add these sounds to their own songs.Some people see them as a sign that spring is here.

House Finch History in Ohio

House Finches are not native to Ohio. They spread from the western U.S. after some captive birds were released in New York in the 1940s. Now, they’re one of the most common finches in Ohio.

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Purple Finch: 

Despite its name, the Purple Finch is not purple at all. During spring and summer, male House Finches sing beautiful songs.

Purple Finch vs. House Finch

Feature	Purple Finch	House Finch
Color	Raspberry-red	Bright red
Head	Fully colored	Partial coloration
Streaks	Less defined	More defined

Purple Finches have a special adaptation that allows them to eat while hanging upside down, making them adept at feeding from pine cones.

“Purple Finches are like House Finches dipped in raspberry juice.” – Roger Tory Peterson, famous ornithologist

Common Redpoll:

Common Redpolls are small, streaky finches with bright red caps. These arctic visitors come to Ohio during harsh winters up north.

Redpoll Facts

• Size: About 5 inches long
• Diet: Mainly birch and alder seeds
• Behavior: Often feed in large flocks

Fact :Common Redpolls have a special pouch in their esophagus where they can store seeds, allowing them to gather food quickly and eat it later in a safer location.

Attracting Redpolls

To attract Redpolls, offer nyjer seeds and small sunflower chips in tube feeders or scatter them on platform feeders.

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Pine Siskin:

Pine Siskins are small, streaky brown finches with yellow edges on their wings and tails. Their high-pitched, buzzy calls are distinctive.

Pine Siskin Identification

• Length: 4-5 inches
• Wingbars: Yellow
• Bill: Sharp and pointed

Pine Siskins often travel in mixed flocks with goldfinches. Look for them in coniferous forests and at thistle feeders.
It have a highly developed sense of sociality, often forming tight-knit flocks that may include hundreds of individuals during winter.

Pine Siskin Migration

Siskins are “irruptive” migrants. In some years, large numbers may appear in Ohio, while in others, they’re scarce.

Evening Grosbeak:

Evening Grosbeaks are large, stocky finches with striking yellow, black, and white plumage. Once common winter visitors to Ohio, they’ve become less frequent in recent years.

Evening Grosbeak Features

• Size: 7-9 inches long
• Bill: Large and pale
• Male: Yellow body with black wings
• Female: Grayish body with black and white wings

Fact : Evening Grosbeaks have one of the strongest beaks relative to their body size among North American birds, capable of cracking open large seeds with ease.

Attracting Evening Grosbeaks

To attract these beautiful birds:

1. Offer sunflower seeds in platform feeders
2. Plant fruit-bearing trees like cherries or crabapples
3. Maintain mature deciduous trees in your yard

Red Crossbill:

Red Crossbills are unique finches with crossed bill tips, perfectly adapted for extracting seeds from pine cones.
They  are so dependent on conifer seeds that they can breed at any time of the year when seed crops are abundant, even in the middle of winter.

Red Crossbill Facts

• Size: 6-7 inches long
• Bill: Upper and lower mandibles cross at tips
• Color: Males are reddish, females are yellowish-green

Red Crossbills are nomadic, following cone crops. In Ohio, look for them in coniferous forests, especially during winter.

Red Crossbill Types: 

There are several “types” of Red Crossbills, each with a distinct call and preferred conifer species. In Ohio, Type 2 (Ponderosa Pine Crossbill) is most common.

White-winged Crossbill :

White-winged Crossbills are similar to Red Crossbills but have distinctive white wing bars.White-winged Crossbills have asymmetrical skull structures, with the lower mandible always crossing to the same side, either left or right, in each individual bird.

Identifying White-winged Crossbills

• Size: Slightly smaller than Red Crossbills
• Wing bars: Two prominent white bars
• Male: Pinkish-red body
• Female: Yellowish with dark streaks

These birds are rare in Ohio, typically only seen during irruption years when food is scarce in their northern habitats.

Where to Look

Check mature spruce stands in northeastern Ohio during winter months. Mohican State Forest and Hinckley Reservation are good spots to try.

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Hoary Redpoll: 

Redpolls are pale, frosty-looking finches that occasionally visit Ohio during harsh winters.Hoary Redpolls have incredibly dense plumage that allows them to survive in Arctic regions where temperatures can drop to -65°F (-54°C).

Hoary vs. Common Redpoll

Feature	Hoary Redpoll	Common Redpoll
Overall color	Paler, frostier	Darker, browner
Rump	White, unstreaked	Streaked
Bill	Smaller, stubby	Larger, more pointed

Hoary Redpolls are a challenging identification even for experienced birders. They often mix with flocks of Common Redpolls.

Hoary Redpoll Sightings

While rare, Hoary Redpolls have been spotted in Ohio. Notable locations include:

• Headlands Beach State Park
• Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
• Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

Tips for Successful Finch Watching in Ohio

To maximize your chances of seeing these fascinating finches:

1. Provide the right food: Offer nyjer seeds, sunflower seeds, and suet.
2. Create a bird-friendly yard: Plant native trees and shrubs that produce seeds.
3. Visit diverse habitats: Explore coniferous forests, open fields, and urban parks.
4. Time it right: Many finches are more common in Ohio during fall and winter.
5. Be patient: Some species only appear in Ohio during irruption years.

Best Locations for Finch Watching in Ohio

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
• Mohican State Forest
• Shawnee State Forest
• Your own backyard!

Contributing to Finch Conservation

As a birdwatcher, you can help protect Ohio’s finches:

1. Report your sightings: Use eBird to log your observations.
2. Create habitat: Plant native species that provide food and shelter.
3. Reduce window collisions: Use bird-friendly window treatments.
4. Keep cats indoors: Outdoor cats are a major threat to birds.
5. Support conservation organizations: Join local Audubon chapters or bird clubs.

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir