Do House Finches Mate For Life? (Behavior, Courtship + FAQs)

The house finch is a widespread and easily identifiable species that is common across much of North America. They are common visitors to backyards, and you may notice that they often come in pairs, even outside of the breeding season. However, this does not mean that house finches mate for life.

House sparrows are only socially monogamous. Many house finches breed in pairs for years and stay together throughout the winter, but their relationship is not lifelong. After several breeding seasons, former partners are likely to find new mates.

Some individual house finches even change mates during the breeding season.

We will discuss why this happens and other mating behaviors of house finches in more detail throughout this article. Read on to discover more!

House finches do not form lifelong partnerships, but can often breed with the same individual for many years in a row

How do house sparrows attract mates?

courtship behavior

Male house finches attract mates through a series of displays known as courtship behaviours. Butterfly flight is one such display, performed by males early in pair formation. It involves male finches climbing to a height of nearly 100 feet, then gliding back to their perches singing loudly.

We should note that male house finches sing throughout the year. However, there is a difference between courtship songs and everyday songs. The male’s song during the courtship and breeding season (until hatching) includes a humming syllable. All other songs do not have this syllable.

Other courtship displays include the male jumping up to the female while raising his tail above his head, dropping his wings, and wagging back and forth. Occasionally, the male will hold nesting material in his beak for courtship.

Male (left) and female (right) house finches perched on a garden fence

to form

Pair formation of house finches begins in winter, when birds gather in flocks. Between January and February, flocks of 10 to 15 finches gather together to form a circle – called a lek. These leks sometimes have an inner ring and an outer ring.

Birds in the outer ring are waiting for the opening of the inner ring, where they may pair with a mate. When an inner ring male and female pair up, they fly away together, usually accompanied by the male’s song. The bond between the newly formed pair will become more stable as the breeding season approaches.

Previously existing pairs of house finches usually stay together throughout the winter and remain together through successive breeding seasons. However, this is not always the case. Individuals in a pair sometimes form new associations and do not mate a second time.

Small flock of house sparrows in a tree

courtship feeding

Courtship feeding is another form of display between house finches. Typically within a month of nesting, both male and female finches begin exhibiting billing behavior, with one bird pecking at the other’s closed beak while chirping.

Billings give way to males to perform regurgitation maneuvers, while females demonstrate by lowering their wings, throwing their heads up and calling excitedly. At this point, the male is feeding the female and will continue to do so throughout the chick period.

Courtship feeding of house sparrows

How many times do house finches mate each year?

House finches may mate multiple times throughout the breeding season, producing as many as six broods. However, usually only three of the six are successful.

Individuals often re-nest with the same mate throughout the summer – although among house finches, multiple pairs are not uncommon; some may even switch partners entirely.

Spouse switching most likely occurs after a failed nesting attempt, but sometimes switching seems to happen for no reason.

House sparrow perched on a log

What happens when a house sparrow mate dies?

When a house finch mate dies, the surviving mate seeks out a new mate. If the death occurs during the breeding season, solitary mates may form new bonds and re-nest relatively quickly.

If the loss occurs outside of the breeding and nesting period, the surviving male or female will wait until January and February to find a new mate.

Do house finches migrate with their mates?

House finches are primarily permanent residents within their territories, but some populations migrate short distances to lower elevations. It is not uncommon for those migrating birds to fly in flocks, migrating together in pairs and staying together throughout the winter.

The same is true for house finch populations that remain in or near their breeding areas. They congregate in large flocks during the winter and stay in close contact in pairs.

A pair of house finches perched on a tree

Do house sparrows grieve the loss of a mate?

Little is known about whether wild house finches grieve the loss of a mate. They may exhibit mourning-like behaviors, such as waiting or calling their partner for a period of time before realizing that their partner has left.

However, house finches are only socially monogamous, and they may stay with a mate for several seasons, or switch in the middle of the breeding season, as the case may be.

Because this species doesn’t really mate for life, they may not be as deeply bonded as birds that form lifelong partnerships.

Do house finches live together as a family?

House finches don’t stay together forever like a family. Young birds remain with their parents until 2.5 to 3 weeks after eclosion.

At this point, the young finches can forage for themselves, so they leave the family and form flocks with other young birds. These flocks often winter together until the next breeding season.