Northern Cardinal vs House Finch
The check that settles it
Far smaller, no crest, red confined to head and chest over a streaky brown body.
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
- Size
- 21–23 cm
- Bill
- conical
- Where
- feeder, yard, woodland
- Voice
- A loud clear whistle, often written 'birdy-birdy-birdy' or 'cheer-cheer-cheer'. Both sexes sing, which is unusual.
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
- Size
- 12–15 cm
- Bill
- conical
- Where
- feeder, yard, city
- Voice
- A long warbling jumble ending in a harsh upward 'wheer'.
Confirming a northern cardinal
- A thick, conical, orange-red bill — on both sexes, and unlike anything else at a feeder.
- A pointed crest, raised when alert.
- A black mask around the bill; extensive on the male, fainter on the female.
- Females are buff-brown with red edges, not dull red — they are the commonest 'what is this brown bird' question in the east.
Confirming a house finch
- Red confined to the head and chest, with brown streaking on the flanks below it.
- A curved upper edge to the conical bill.
- Female: plain brown with blurred streaking and no strong face pattern.
- Red can be orange or yellow — diet, not a different species.