Social and Adaptable

Find out how the house finch became a backyard regular

- BY KAITLIN STAINBROOK

In March 1942, a flock of seven house finches was discovered on Long Island.

This was highly unusual, since at the time, house finches were typically found only west of the Mississippi River, including the western United States and Mexico. After some investigation, the National Audubon Society caught wind of a Brooklyn pet store selling house finches as "Hollywood finches." Fearing legal consequences, the sellers released the birds into New York City. An estimated 100,000 house finches had been smuggled in from California—and the rest, as they say, is history.

Versatile Nesters