Winter Finch Report 2025-26

By Wayne Laubscher

For the past few months, and continuing through the winter, several species of finches are seeing a very good flight year (irruption). This is due to a poor seed crop in the boreal forest in central and eastern Canada, which forces some finches to seek more food to the south. Boreal forests, also known as “taiga,” are the northernmost forests in the world. At the same time, a widespread spruce budworm outbreak in the same area is also a factor. These insect larvae provide an excellent source of food for finches and other bird species during the nesting season, leading to higher numbers of surviving nestlings and thus more pressure to find food.

Purple Finches have been moving south since August in good numbers. Males are a raspberry red and females are strongly brown-streaked with a heavy face pattern. They prefer black oil sunflower seeds at feeders as well as various deciduous seeds. This species nests in Pennsylvania. They can be confused with the more common House Finch; however, House Finches are brick red in the front with brown streaking and females are lightly brown streaked.

A good flight of Pine Siskins is occurring as far south as the mid-Atlantic states, including Pennsylvania. They are brown, usually with heavy streaking and some yellow in the tail and wings. These rather tame birds prefer nyger (thistle) seeds in tube or sock feeders. They also feed on spruce, tamarack, and hemlock. Pine Siskins will nest in Pennsylvania during irruptions.

There is currently a moderate flight of Evening Grosbeaks happening. Birds are being reported in New York, New England, and Pennsylvania. This is that big and colorful finch that many people look forward to seeing. Adult males are yellow and black with a yellow eyebrow and a large white patch on the wing. Females and juvenile birds are mostly gray with black and white wings and a yellowish green tinge on the neck and sides. They are a large finch about 8 inches long. Evening Grosbeaks eat large amounts of black sunflower seeds and prefer platform feeders.

Redpolls seem to be showing a strong flight out of the eastern boreal forest south into New England and New York and could make it into Pennsylvania according to Matt Young of the Finch Research Network. Redpolls are small arctic finches. Both sexes have red caps and black chins. Males also have a pink wash on the breast. At feeders, they consume black oil sunflower and nyger seeds. They also feed in weedy fields and on birch and alder trees.

Matt Young also hinted at another possible species, Pine Grosbeak, which is rare in Pennsylvania, that might show up here. There are currently reports in New York. Males are bright rosy red with black and white wing bars. Females are gray with a yellowish tinged head, breast, and rump, and white wing bars. They about 9 inches long. Pine Grosbeaks will come to feeders with black sunflower seeds.

Two additional non-finch species are included in this annual finch forecast. One is the very familiar Blue Jay. An above-average flight of jays south is likely. The other is Red-breasted Nuthatch. They have been irrupting south into our area since August. They have bluish gray backs, a black cap, white face with a black stripe through the eye, and an orange-tinged belly. Their call has been described as like a little tin horn. They are found in conifers and also will come to suet feeders.

So, keep your feeders filled, be sure to clean them periodically, and enjoy the bird show.

Thanks and acknowledgments to forecaster Tyler Hoar, Matt Young, and the Finch Research Network. Go to: finchnetwork.org for more information.