From the boreal forests of the Arrowhead region to the river valleys of the Driftless Area, Minnesota offers a spectacular stage for birdwatching. Among the most colorful and energetic performers on this stage are the finches.
These small songbirds are beloved for their vibrant colors, acrobatic flight, and cheerful songs that brighten even the coldest winter mornings.
Identifying the various types of finches in Minnesota is a favorite pastime for locals, largely because the cast of characters changes with the seasons. While some species are permanent residents, others are “irruptive” migrants—nomads that descend from the Canadian wilderness in unpredictable waves known as “irruptions.”
Whether you are filling a feeder in Minneapolis or hiking through Sax-Zim Bog, learning to distinguish these birds will transform your outdoor experience.
Key Insight: Most finches are specialized seed-eaters. The shape of their beak usually reveals their preferred diet—from the massive, nut-cracking bill of a grosbeak to the delicate, tweezer-like bill of a siskin.
Here is your guide to the ten distinctive species found across the Land of 10,000 Lakes, complete with identification tips and habitat preferences.
1. American goldfinch
The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a common summer resident across the entire state and remains a winter resident in the southern half of Minnesota. Often called the “wild canary,” the breeding male is unmistakable with his brilliant lemon-yellow body, black cap, and black wings. They are often seen clinging to thistles and coneflowers, swaying in the wind as they extract seeds.
However, winter brings a dramatic change. As the snow flies, both males and females molt into a muted olive-brown plumage to blend in with dormant vegetation. This drastic change often confuses novice birders who wonder where their yellow birds went. Despite the color shift, you can still identify them by their conical bills, notched tails, and distinctive white wing bars.
How to Attract American Goldfinches:
- Offer Nyjer Seed: Use a dedicated tube feeder with small ports or a mesh “sock” feeder.
- Plant Natives: Leave purple coneflowers and black-eyed susans standing through winter; goldfinches love to pick the seeds from the dried heads.
- Provide Water: A heated birdbath in winter is a powerful magnet for these birds.
2. House finch
If you have a bird feeder in the Twin Cities, Rochester, or Duluth, you likely host the House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus). Originally a bird of the Southwest, this adaptable species has expanded its range and is now a permanent resident across much of Minnesota. They are highly social and comfortable in urban and suburban environments.
The male House finch washes the backyard in color with his rosy-red head and breast. The female is a streaky brown, lacking the bright colors. Interestingly, the intensity of the male’s red coloration is derived entirely from his diet. Males that consume more carotenoid-pigmented foods during their molt will appear brighter red, while those with a poorer diet may look orange or even yellow.
2..1 Vocalization
You will often hear the House finch before you see it. Their song is a jumbled, cheerful warble that typically ends with a harsh, rising “vree” or slur note.
- Habitat: Cities, suburbs, farms, and forest edges.
- Diet: Seeds, buds, and fruits; highly attracted to black oil sunflower seeds.
- Identification Marker: Look for heavy brown streaking on the flanks (sides) of the belly, which helps distinguish them from other red finches.
3. Purple finch
Distinguishing the Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) from the House finch is the classic identification challenge for Minnesota birders. The Purple finch is typically a bird of the northern coniferous forests during summer (breeding in the Arrowhead and north-central regions) but migrates to southern Minnesota backyards in winter.
The male Purple finch is not truly purple; he is more of a rich, deep raspberry-red. A famous description by naturalist Roger Tory Peterson notes that the Purple finch looks like it was “dipped in raspberry juice,” whereas the House finch looks like the red was just painted on its face and breast.
Comparison: House Finch vs. Purple Finch
| Feature | House Finch | Purple Finch |
| Red Distribution | Face, breast, and rump (specific areas) | Washed over entire head, back, and breast |
| Flanks (Sides) | Heavily streaked with brown | Clean, faint, or no streaking |
| Head Shape | Round/flat head | Slight crest or peak often visible |
| Face Pattern | Plain red face | Brown ear patch behind eye (Females) |
| Bill Shape | Slightly curved upper ridge | Straight, triangular profile |
Pro Tip: If you see a “red finch” deep in the woods of the Superior National Forest far from houses, check your field marks carefully—it is more likely to be a Purple finch.
4. Cassin’s finch
The Cassin’s finch (Haemorhous cassinii) is a bird of the western mountains and is generally considered a rare or accidental visitor to Minnesota. However, astute birders occasionally spot them, particularly in the western counties or during unusual migration patterns.
Visually, they sit somewhere between a House finch and a Purple finch. The male features a distinct, bright crimson cap (“toupee”) that contrasts sharply with a paler, rosy-pink neck and back. They are slightly larger and longer-billed than the Purple finch. The female is streaky brown but has much finer, crisper streaks on her chest compared to the blurry streaks of a House finch.
- Status in MN: Rare/Accidental.
- Look-Alike: Most similar to the Purple finch but with a peaked head and different red distribution.
- Behavior: Often feeds on the ground or high in conifers extracting seeds.
5. Pine siskin
The Pine siskin (Spinus pinus) is a feisty, nomadic finch that often descends upon Minnesota backyards in massive, noisy flocks. These small, streaky brown birds are distinguished by flashes of yellow in their wings and tail, which are most visible when they take flight or flutter at a feeder.
Pine siskins are a classic “irruptive” species. Their presence in southern Minnesota is dictated by the abundance of cone crops in the Canadian boreal forests. In some winters, they are everywhere; in others, they are completely absent.
5..1 Feeder Dominance
Despite their small size (smaller than a goldfinch), Pine siskins are aggressive. They will frequently display dominance at feeders, opening their bills and spreading their wings (“mantling”) to drive away other birds from the best perch.
Key Identification Traits:
- Very sharp, pointed bill (narrower than other finches).
- Heavy, dark streaking over the entire body.
- Distinctive “watch-winding” call—a rising zzzzzzzt sound.
Important Note: Pine siskins are susceptible to Salmonellosis, a bacterial infection spread at crowded feeders. If you see siskins that appear puffed up, lethargic, or approachable, take your feeders down immediately and clean them with a 10% bleach solution.
6. Evening grosbeak
The Evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) is one of the most spectacular finches you can encounter in the North Woods. Roughly the size of a Starling, the male sports a stunning plumage of mustard-yellow, black, and white, with a massive, pale conical bill that gives the bird its name.
Historically, these birds were common winter visitors to feeders across Minnesota, but their numbers have declined significantly in recent decades. Today, seeing a flock is a special event, usually restricted to the northern third of the state (like Ely or Grand Marais) during winter. They travel in noisy groups and can consume massive amounts of sunflower seeds in a single sitting.
Where to Look:
- Region: Arrowhead region and north-central forests.
- Habitat: Mixed coniferous forests, often around Box Elder or maple trees.
- Sound: Listen for their call, which sounds like a loud, piercing “clee-ip” or the chirp of a giant house sparrow.
7. Red crossbill
The Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is a marvel of evolutionary adaptation found in Minnesota’s pine forests. As their name suggests, the tips of their mandibles cross over each other. This is a specialized tool designed to pry open the tough scales of conifer cones to extract the nutritious seeds inside.
In Minnesota, Red crossbills are residents of the northern coniferous forests, but they are highly nomadic. They move to wherever the cone crop is heaviest. You are most likely to see them flying in tight flocks calling jip-jip-jip or perched high in Red Pines or White Spruces.
7..1 The “Type” Phenomenon
Ornithologists classify Red crossbills into different “Types” based on their flight calls. Each type specializes in different conifer cones. In Minnesota, you might encounter Type 2 (Ponderosa Pine specialists) or Type 3 (Western Hemlock specialists) wandering through. While they all look similar (males are brick-red, females olive-green), they are ecologically distinct.
8. White-winged crossbill
While the Red crossbill is widespread, the White-winged crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) is often more elusive, typically favoring the spruce and tamarack bogs of northern Minnesota. They are true boreal nomads.
Visually, they are distinct from their Red cousins. The male is a rosier, pink-red color, and both sexes display two bold, broad white wing bars that are visible even from a distance. Their crossed bill is thinner and more delicate than that of the Red crossbill, adapted for the smaller, softer cones of spruces and larches.
Finding White-winged Crossbills:
- Head North: Look in the Sax-Zim Bog or Superior National Forest.
- Listen: Their call is a dry, rattling chet-chet-chet, often delivered in a long series.
- Check Irruptions: Like siskins, they occasionally move south into the Twin Cities during winter when food supplies in Canada fail.
9. Common redpoll
The Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea) is a tiny, energetic finch of the high Arctic that visits Minnesota only during winter. They are birds of the cold, appearing in open fields, birch thickets, and weedy roadsides across the state.
These birds are incredibly hardy, capable of surviving temperatures far below zero. Identification is relatively straightforward: look for a small, frosty-brown bird with a bright red patch on its forehead (the “poll”) and a black chin patch. Males may also show a pinkish wash on their breast.
9..1 Feeding Habits
Common redpolls are often seen feeding on catkins in birch or alder trees, hanging upside down like acrobats. At feeders, they behave similarly to Pine siskins and American goldfinches, favoring Nyjer seed and hulled sunflower chips.
Common Mistake: Confusing a Redpoll with a House Finch. Remember to check for the black chin patch and the specific red cap; House Finches lack the black chin and have red diffused over the whole face.
10. Lesser goldfinch (rare vagrant)
The Lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) is traditionally a bird of the American Southwest and West Coast. In Minnesota, it is considered a rare vagrant, though sightings do occur, particularly in the western part of the state or during warmer months.
They are slightly smaller than the American goldfinch. The males seen in our region would likely be the “green-backed” variety (though black-backed males exist in the south), featuring a black cap and bright yellow underparts. The key distinction from the American goldfinch is that Lesser goldfinches do not molt into a drab brown plumage in winter; they retain their yellow coloration year-round.
Identification Checklist:
- Back Color: Olive-green (males) vs. Yellow (American Goldfinch males in summer).
- Cap: Black cap extends past the eye.
- Call: A plaintive, descending whistle.
If you spot a goldfinch in Minnesota that seems “too yellow” for a winter day, grab your binoculars—you might be looking at this rare visitor.
