The Birders Report

House Finch Chicks at about 13 days photo by Larry Jordan

As you can see these chicks are fully feathered and nearly ready to fledge.  House Finches usually fledge at day 16.  In most songbird species, the parents carry the fecal sacs out of the nest and dispose of them but the House Finch doesn’t do this.  That is why you see the fecal material accumulated around the rim of the nest.

These chicks are literally overflowing the nest as you can tell by comparing the photo above with this one when they were only a couple of days old.

Enjoy all the nesting songbirds in your yard while you can.  Make sure you offer them plenty of food and water so their babies can grow up strong and healthy. 

Happy Birding!