Irruptive Finches in Houston, Texas

Irruptive finches are those that leave their normal wintering grounds to go to spots they are not normally seen in. Irruptions are not the same as migrations - migrating birds tend to leave every year and head for the same wintering grounds. Irruptive finches, on the other hand, are not migrating at all but just suddenly deciding to take off and winter someplace new. All irruptive species are seed eaters, and irruptions occur when this food source becomes scarce in their normal wintering spot. Most irruptions aren't predictable, but as noted they usually occur when a food source becomes scarce. You can tell you're seeing an irruption when you look out at your bird feeder during a Houston, Texas winter and see a flock of pine siskins feasting on your black oil sunflower seeds. For tips on identifying the irruptive finches that may appear in your Houston, Texas backyard, see below.

Purple Finch. Probably the prettiest of the irruptive finches, you can recognize it from its large beak and its gorgeous pink-red head and back. Purple finches love black oil sunflowers seeds, so use these in your feeder if you are looking to attract these irruptive finches to your Houston, Texas backyard. They also enjoy cherries, blackberries and apricots.

Pine Siskin. This small finch is easy to recognize in Houston, Texas from its brown, heavily streaked body. It is paler underneath, and has two buff wingbars. This is the most common of the irruptive finches in Houston, Texas, and sometimes will even stay and nest at its new wintering ground. They will hang upside down in trees and at feeders. To attract these irruptive finches, use thistle and sunflower seeds in your Houston, Texas feeders.

Pine Grosbeak. This is the largest of the winter finches, and one of the rarest of the irruptive birds, but that doesn't mean a flock may not show up at your Houston, Texas feeders. You'll recognize it from its pinkish-red head, breast, back and rump. It has dark wings with two white wing bars, and is also quite plump. They will be attracted to seeds and fruit, as well as any water sources you may have in your Houston, Texas backyard.

Evening Grosbeak. Look for these large, brightly colored irruptive finches devouring every last one of your black oil sunflower seeds. This irruptive finch has a brown head, a black crown, and a yellow forehead and eyestripe. Its heavy bill is greenish-yellow. As noted above, to draw these irruptive finches to your Houston, Texas backyard, be sure to have plenty of sunflower seeds. Also try putting out some cherry pits.

Common Redpoll. These irruptive finches are easy to identify from their bright red crowns and black chins. They also have a reddish-pink tail and breast. This is a very tiny finch that will be attracted to small seeds in your Houston, Texas backyard, especially thistle. They sometimes hang upside down while feeding, or fill their throat pouches with seeds and fly off somewhere safer to eat them.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.allaboutbirds.org

http://duncraft.atom5.com/irruptive-winter-fin-4170.html

http://www.birdsource.org