House finches...

[Michiganhunter16]

These little terrors are scaring off my yard's local songbird population! Are they legal to shoot, or are they protected by the migratory bird act as well?
P.S. I live in Michigan, as my name says.

[sconnyhunter]

Check your states hunting regulations first, than call the DNR for confirmation. Most likely they are legal to kill.

[kevin1]

This may help: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...mexicanus.html

It's from UM, and contains links that may clarify your situation. House finches are pretty territorial, but if you hang one of those thistle socks well away from your other feeders they'll pose fewer problems.

[kyhunter93]

I shot 6 of those this weekend. They dissappear when you hit em with a .223

[iSnipe]

Originally Posted by kyhunter93

They dissappear when you hit em with a .223

Imagine that.

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Seems not right to put out feed for birds only to kill certain birds you don't like.

I like the idea of feeding them something else away from the main feeder. Only problem is you might lure other birds there too, ruining your entertain of the birds you want to see.

I guess if they need to be thinned out, they need to be thinned out.

iSnipe

[Michiganhunter16]

Thanks everybody, for the answers... But I didn't exactly get a straight answer for the UM website.

[kyhunter93]

Originally Posted by iSnipe

Imagine that.

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It's just like magic..

[JW]

They are a songbird and protected.

JW

[Michiganhunter16]

Ahh! I missidentified the bird; it is actually a house SPARROW and NOT a finch. This means that they're a pest species.

[cnyguy]

Neither House Finches or House Sparrows pose a problem at bird feeders. At least no worse than any other songbird. Both the House Finch and House Sparrow are protected as they are songbirds. If you can afford hunting equipment, I suggest you spend a couple of bucks on a good bird identification book before you go blasting away. My guess you have English Sparrows which are an invasive species and not protected in most states. Most people cannot tell the difference between a House Finch and a Purple Finch in the winter. The House Sparrow looks nothing like a House Finch. The House Sparrow looks completely different from the English Sparrow. I hope you do a better job of indentifying what you shoot at when you hunt!