Cassin's Finch Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesCassin's Finch
Adult male
Small, somewhat chunky finch with a conical bill and a notched tail. Adult males have a brighter red peaked crown. Note nearly unstreaked underparts.
© Milton Vine / Macaulay LibraryOregon, May 15, 2017Female/immature
Stocky looking finch. Females/immature males are brown overall with short, crisp streaks on the underparts.
© Kai Frueh / Macaulay LibraryOregon, March 31, 2017Adult male
Visits sunflower seed feeders, especially during winter. Uses the heavy conical bill to crack sunflower seeds with ease.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 01, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult male
The peaked crown is brighter red than the rest of the body.
© Nigel Voaden / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 24, 2015Female/immature
Females/immature males have short, crisp streaks on the belly and heavy streaking on the back.
© Ian Routley / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 29, 2020Adult male
Adult males have a brighter red crown and red washing down the heavily streaked back. Like other finches, the tail is notched.
© David Marjamaa / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 19, 2016Female/immature
Stocky finch with a peaked crown. Females/immature males are streaky brown overall with heavy streaking on the back.
© Bradley Hacker 🦜 / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 16, 2019Habitat
Found in evergreen forests in the mountains up to about 10,000 feet elevation. Feeds heavily on seeds of pines and quaking aspen.
© Russ Namitz / Macaulay LibraryOregon, December 29, 2016Similar SpeciesHouse Finch
Adult male
Adult male House Finches don't have the brighter red peaked crown like adult male Cassin's Finches. They also lack the Cassin's Finch's red-washed back.
© Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 21, 2017Similar SpeciesHouse Finch
Female/immature
Female/immature House Finches have blurrier streaks on their underparts than the crisp streaks of female/immature Cassin's Finches.
© Dave Spier / Macaulay LibraryNew York, January 15, 2008Similar SpeciesPurple Finch
Adult male (Eastern)
Adult male Purple Finches have more red on their backs and heads than adult male Cassin's Finches. Purple's crown is rounded and evenly colored, unlike the peaked bright red crown on Cassin's Finches.
© Wendy Hogan / Macaulay LibraryOntario, May 22, 2016Similar SpeciesPurple Finch
Female/immature (Eastern)
Female/immature Purple Finches have white undertail coverts, whereas female and young Cassin's Finches have streaked undertail coverts. Purple Finches also have a more distinct brown "ear" patch outlined by the bold white eyebrow and cheek stripes.
© Scott Martin / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 14, 2017Similar SpeciesPine Siskin
Adult (Northern)
Pine Siskins are smaller and more active than Cassin’s Finches. They also have a thinner, more pointed bill than Cassin's Finches and a yellow stripe in their wings.
© Douglas Faulder / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, July 30, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Finches, Euphonias, and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Fringillidae)
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