Finches - any of numerous songbirds (as the sparrows, grosbeaks, crossbills, goldfinches, and buntings) that have a short stout bill adapted for crushing seeds.

Any songbird of the family Fringillidae, having a short stout bill for feeding on seeds and, in most species, a bright plumage in the male. Common examples are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, siskin, and canary.

The family Fringillidae are the "true" finches. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes these 240 species in the family, distributed among three subfamilies and 50 genera.

Fine feature: Finches are generally excellent singers. However, their songs can range from the complex and beautiful repertoires of the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) to the monotonously unmusical notes of the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Many kinds of finches are kept as cage birds.

Finches are best kept in Male-Female pairs. Single birds are fine in a larger flock of at least 3 pairs and juveniles will happily perch and feed together right up until the hormones kick in (around 9 weeks old).

While finches vocalize as much or more as other types of commonly kept pet birds, they have tiny voices that do not carry as far as those of larger birds, such as parrots. For this reason, finches are a great choice for bird lovers who live in apartments or condominiums.

Finch birds are songbirds who enjoy singing and chirping. They're also quite active and can often be seen fluttering around their enclosures. Despite being social creatures, finches don't require much human interaction.

Formal habitat: In rural areas, you can also find House Finches around barns and stables. In their native range in the West, House Finches live in natural habitats including desert, desert grassland, chaparral, oak savannah, streamsides, and open coniferous forests at elevations below 6,000 feet.

Finches do not do very well in a cold climate, especially the waxbills and the gouldians. They come from a very dry and warm climate, so if they are not properly adjusted to their current climate, they may not survive. The change of weather plus a brisk wind is enough to send them into shock.

Unlike other types of finches, society finches aren't found in the wild—meaning they've been bred as pets. They're known for their friendliness and ability to chirp in a melodious way. They are usually brown and white, with different types of markings.

Full colors: Finches come in all sorts of colors, from the bright reds of the cardinal finch to the more subdued hues of the brown-headed cowbird.

Male House Finches are generally red, but under certain circumstances, they may be orange or yellow instead. Different subspecies may show color variations, but color differences are also attributed to diet. When a bird is molting, its diet will determine the colors of its new feathers.

 The Gouldian finch (Chloebia gouldiae), also known as the Gould's finch or the rainbow finch, is a colorful passerine bird that is native to Australia.

Found all over: The finches have a near-global distribution, being found across the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, as well as some island groups such as the Hawaiian Islands.

Apart from the Cocos finch from Cocos Island, the others are found only on the Galápagos Islands. The term "Darwin's finches" was first applied by Percy Lowe in 1936, and popularised in 1947 by David Lack in his book Darwin's Finches.

Darwin's finches from the Galápagos archipelago have historic importance in the field of evolutionary biology as they provided some of the fundamental insights into processes of natural selection and adaptive radiation.

Favour some beaks: On the Galápagos, finches evolved based on different food sources — long, pointed beaks served well for snatching insects while broad, blunt beaks work best for cracking seeds and nuts.

 Finch beaks have evolved into various shapes to suit particular food sources, enabling better survival and reproduction. Beaks shaped like swords are designed for insect-eating finches to efficiently catch and consume their prey.

Finches are generally seed eaters that eat a variety of plant seeds, especially grasses. Depending on the season, seed availability, insects, certain fruits, berries, and other vegetation will constitute the bulk of a finch's diet during certain times of the year.

Finches can live 15 to 20 years, but the more common lifespan is probably five to 10. This finch spends most of its time foraging above ground, looking for insect larvae — its favorite prey. It also feeds on nectar, buds, and leaves.

Friendly and lively characteristics: Finches, in general, symbolize happiness and energetic times ahead. This is because they come in a variety of bright colors – yellow, red, and purple. Finches also represent adaptability, freedom, vulnerability, and good fortune. House finches specifically symbolize harmony in life.

The meaning and symbolism of finches as totem animals and spirits cover a wide range of topics. Their bright plumage and catchy songs make these little, happy birds synonymous with joy, happiness, and optimism. Finches also represent flexibility and adaptability, encouraging it in the face of life's changes.

Finches are very social birds and can often be seen socializing with birds of other species. Although the Finch family is one of the largest bird families, Finches are actually one of the smallest in the world.

Finches are often associated with joy and cheerfulness, symbolizing the ability to find happiness in simple pleasures. The lively and vibrant nature of finches symbolizes renewal, rejuvenation, and the opportunity for fresh beginnings.

Finches are known for their lively personalities. At a maximum length of approximately twenty centimeters, what they lack in size, they make up for in their activity. For many years, finches have been kept as pets because of their beauty and their natural ability to bring sunshine into their owner’s lives.