Differences between Chickadee and House-Finch

Chickadee and House-Finch are two classes of birds that belong to the Paridae and Fringillidae families respectively.

Chickadee is a group of North American songbirds that symbolizes energy and courage. The name is analogous to the bird’s call notes that is usually used to send out alarms. It is interesting that the number of times ‘dee’ is called out is based on the type of predator. Chickadees are capable of producing 13 types of complex vocalizations. Chickadees are small birds with a round head and long tail. Their crown, forehead, and neck are deep black in color. The cheeks and belly are pure white, while the back is grey. The wings and tail are streaks of white and black. The eyes of Chickadees are brown. Their bill is short, slightly curved, and black. Chickadee is an inquisitive bird and quick in spotting preys and feeders. It is especially known for its exemplary memory. The bird conceals about 80,000 seeds in different places during the summer and reclaims them efficiently in the winter. Chickadees are also capable of identifying and remembering every aspect of their environment.

House Finch is a medium-sized song bird. It has a flat head, short wings, and long jagged tail. Also known as Linnet, the bird has a cone-shaped beak and thin short legs. The female House Finches have a blackish brown plumage all over their body. However, the male birds have reddish face, neck, and chest. This color, which they get from compounds in their diet, could vary with geography. House Finch is known as an aggressive and intelligent bird. There are about 11 subspecies of them.

Where are Chickadee and House-Finch found?

Chickadees generally live in dense forests and coniferous regions. However, they can also be found in open grasslands and open woods near waterbeds. They have also adapted themselves to live in parks and gardens in cities. They are regular visitors at backyards. Chickadees are native to North America. They exist there in huge population. There are seven Chickadee species in the continent. Some of them are Mountain Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Mexican Chickadee, and Black-capped Chickadee. Similar birds exist in Asia, Africa, and Europe. However, only the North American group of birds are known as Chickadees. The other identical birds are mostly known as tits.

House Finches live near streams, in bushes and thickets, and at grasslands, open forests, cities, and suburbs. They are native to western parts of North America, but have been introduced in the eastern regions, the USA, Mexico, and southern Canada.

What do Chickadee and House-Finch eat?

Chickadees are omnivores. They mostly eat insects, snails, spiders, worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and ants besides berries, seeds, and fruits. Occasionally the birds also eat small invertebrates and carrion.

House Finches are mostly herbivores. Their diet chiefly comprises of seeds, berries, cactus, grains, fruits, buds, nuts, and other vegetation. Occasionally, the birds may eat tiny insects.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Chickadee and House-Finch

• Neither Chickadee nor House-Finch eat Fish.
• Neither Chickadee nor House-Finch eat Frogs.
• Chickadee do eat Lizards while House-Finch may not eat Lizards.
• Chickadee do eat Snakes while House-Finch may not eat Snakes.
• Neither Chickadee nor House-Finch eat Turtles.
• Neither Chickadee nor House-Finch eat Squirrels.
• Chickadee and House-Finch do not eat Gophers.
• Both Chickadee and House-Finch do not eat Baby Ducks.
• Mice are not eaten by both Chickadee and House-Finch.

Size of Chickadee and House-Finch?

When it comes to size, Chickadees are small birds. They are 2.4-5.5 inches long and have a wingspan of six to eight inches.. The average length of House Finches is five to six inches. The birds have a wingspan of about eight to 10 inches.

The weight of Chickadees depends on the species. The average weight is 0.29-0.39 ounces. while House Finches are small birds. They weigh 0.66-0.77 ounces.

Where do Chickadee and House-Finch nest?

Chickadees generally build their nests in wooded areas, four to 15 feet above the ground. They prefer tree holes and cavities. They also use boxes and birdhouses. Sometimes, the male and female partners dig cavities in the trees. The female bird chooses the nesting site and constructs the nest. The nest of Chickadees is shaped like a cup and made of twigs, leaves, and other material on the outer. It is lined with soft material like moss, rabbit fur, and feathers on the inside. Chickadee eggs are pinkish white with dark speckles. The female incubates them for 12-13 days during which time she is fed by her partner. After the eggs hatch, both partners share the duties of feeding and protecting the young ones. The chicks fledge when they are about 16 days old.

House Finches build their nests in tree cavities, branches, bushes, ridges, nest boxes, street lamps, chimneys, or corners of buildings. It is the female that usually constructs the nests. She uses dried grass, stems, twigs, leaves, and feathers for the purpose. The nests are generally three to seven inches wide and about two inches deep. The eggs of House Finches are bluish white with dark speckles. The female House Finch incubates them for about two weeks. When the nestlings hatch, both parents engage in feeding them. They are generally fed with soft fly larvae. The young ones fledge when they are 12-15 days old.

How long do Chickadee and House-Finch live?

The average lifespan of Chickadees in the wild is three to seven years. Most nestlings face threat of being eaten by hawks, owls, and other mammals that climb trees. The longest known lived Chickadee was 11 years and five months old.

House Finches live for up to 11 years in the wild. The oldest known House Finch lived for 11 years and seven months.

Are Chickadee or House-Finch migratory birds?

Chickadees are typically non-migratory. They reside in their territories throughout the year. While adult birds always stay put by huddling together in small flocks during winters, the young ones may travel long distances when population at their territories increases after breeding. However, this cannot be termed as migration. Winters are managed without migration as Chickadees have special adaptations. They have dense plumes that help them maintain body temperature during the day. At nights, they roost in flocks. The birds also stay active to keep themselves warm. Further, Chickadees store seeds and grains in summers so they don’t run out of food during winters.

House Finches in the western parts of North America are mostly residents. The ones from the east of the continent and south-eastern Canada migrate southward during winters.

Do Chickadee and House-Finch fly in flocks?

A flock of Chickadees is called banditry. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are friendly with birds of their own species as well as other birds. They use special calls to interact with their flocks. The birds also follow a complex social hierarchy. Chickadees mostly live in pairs during the breeding season. In other times, they live in small flocks of four to 12 birds. In winters they roost in flocks to maintain body temperature.

A flock of House Finches is known as charming or trembling. These birds are extremely gregarious. They are seldom seen solitarily, except in the breeding season. They often forage in loose flocks on the ground or on trees. House Finches may also be extremely noisy. Their nests are generally located in close vicinity. In groups, female House Finches tend to be more dominating.

Are Chickadee or House-Finch protected?

Chickadees are protected under the law in North America. According to the law, it is illegal to hunt, harm, trap or transport the birds or their nests.

House Finches are protected as migratory and non-game birds. It is against the law to kill or harm them.

Are Chickadee or House-Finch endangered?

Chickadees are neither threatened nor endangered. They exist in booming numbers. However, their population is expected to get scattered and their habitats are likely to get distributed owing to global warming and climate change.

House Finches are listed as species of least concern. They are neither threatened nor endangered. However, the birds face dangers such as predator attacks, bacterial disease, and collisions.

Can Chickadee and House-Finch fly?

In flight, the wings and tail of Chickadees are spread out. The birds move up and down while flying and usually do not fly in a straight line. They flap their wings vigorously in short intervals. The maximum flying speed of Chickadees is 12 miles per hour. Chickadees either fly alone or in flocks that may also include other species of birds. They are capable of performing acrobatics while hanging on to trees or bird feeders.

House Finches commonly fly in small groups. They have short wings, so they are not great aviators. Their flying speed averages 15-20 miles an hour. They can also be seen hopping while looking for food on the ground.

Can Chickadee and House-Finch swim?

Chickadees are small birds with feet adapted for perching. Therefore, they cannot swim. But the birds visit shallow waters for drinking and bathing. They are also capable of bathing in cold icy waters during winters.

House Finches are not water birds. Their feet are adapted for perching rather than for swimming. However, the birds enjoy bathing and splashing in shallow waters.

Mating patterns among Chickadee and House-Finch

Chickadees attain sexual maturity when they are six to eight months old. Soon after winter, the flocks start disintegrating and the birds will become more territorial. There is no particular mating ritual that Chickadees follow. The male Chickadees become aggressive to defend their territories. Some of them also feed their partners. The male and female engage in singing and fluttering of wings during courtship. The female recites ‘dee’ multiple times to keep her partner undistracted. At the same time, she is observant of the singing competitions between her partner and other males. Chickadees generally raise only one brood each year. The clutch could have one to 13 eggs depending on the species. The female lays one egg per day. Older females lay the maximum number of eggs. The female bird incubates the eggs and also protects them from predators. She is supported by her partner after hatching to tend to the young ones.

House Finches reach sexually maturity when they are about a year old. During courtship, the female beseeches to be fed by the male. The male feeds the partner, performs several aerial displays, and sings melodiously. The male House Finch’s courtship habit of singing while fluttering the wings and gently gliding down is unique to House Finches. This is referred to as butterfly flight. The male is also protective of his partner. He defends his mate and the nesting territory. House Finches raise three or more broods every year. Each clutch consists of two to six eggs. While the female builds the nest and incubates the eggs, she is supported by the male who feeds her from courtship until the hatching of eggs. The partners also share the responsibility of feeding and guarding their young ones.

When is the mating season for Chickadee and House-Finch ?

The mating season for Chickadees occurs during April-June. The birds start pairing in the beginning of April and by the start of May they start building their nests.

The mating season for House Finches is from March-August each year. The birds, however, start pairing in winter.

Do Chickadee and House-Finch mate for life?

Chickadees are usually monogamous. Their relationships last for several years or for life. In some cases, the female may dissociate from her partner if she finds another mate from a higher status in the hierarchy.

House Finches are monogamous. They mate for life and live with the same partner for the whole of their lives.

How do Chickadee and House-Finch sleep?

Chickadees sleep in tree holes, bird boxes, or ledges of buildings. They prefer to sleep alone except in winters when they huddle together with their flock. During winters, the birds eat plenty of seeds and insects to endure the long cold nights when they will not be able to venture out for foraging.

House Finches sleep at dusk. They need 10-12 hours of sleep each day. They sleep on trees, ledges, rocks, buildings, and street lamps. The birds huddle together while roosting to maintain body temperature.

Can Chickadee and House-Finch be eaten?

There have been instances of people eating the meat of Chickadees in the past. However, harming and hunting of these birds is illegal under modern laws.

House Finches are not known to be eaten. It is also against the law to kill them. However, some people may consume their eggs.

Can you hunt Chickadee or House-Finch?

Chickadees may have been hunted in the past for their meat. However, modern laws do not permit hunting, harming, or trapping of the birds.

House Finches are protected birds. It is against the law to harm or hunt them.

Can you feed Chickadee or House-Finch?

Chickadees have never been domesticated by humans. They are nevertheless offered food at bird feeders. People usually give them sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet blends.

It is a common practice in America to keep feeds for House Finches and other birds. The feeds for House Finches include berries, seeds, bell peppers, beetroot, cabbage, and banana.