Definition of finch
: any of numerous passerine songbirds (families Fringillidae, Estrildidae, Emberizidae, and Cardinalidae) having a short stout usually conical bill adapted for crushing seeds
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Recent Examples of finch from the Web
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Everyone agrees the now-probable finch is probably white because of leucism (or leukism), a plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation.
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Other inhabitants include colorful Gouldian finches, waddling button quail, and terrariums filled with frogs, lizards, and other critters.
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Most famously, Charles Darwin witnessed this phenomenon with finches on the Galapagos Islands.
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In 1981, Peter and Rosemary Grant, the famous husband-and-wife team of evolutionary biologists at Princeton University, had already been studying Darwin's finches on the small Galapagos island Daphne Major for nearly a decade.
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Another finch that has not shown up in our area this winter is the purple finch.
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Next to Lewis was Kathy Radinovsky, another docent, who explained a collection of stuffed but varied examples of finches.
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Blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches and titmice will come for the black-oil sunflower seed.
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Based upon these findings, Dr Suárez-Rodríguez and Dr Macías Garcia argue that their finches are indeed collecting cigarette butts deliberately, to keep ticks at bay and improve the survival of their young.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of finch
Middle English, from Old English finc; akin to Old High German fincho finch and perhaps to Greek spiza chaffinch
FINCH Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of finch for English Language Learners
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: a small bird with a short, thick beak
FINCH Defined for Kids
noun
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ˈfinch
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Definition of finch for Students
: a songbird (as a sparrow, bunting, or canary) with a short bill used for eating seeds
Learn More about finch
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See words that rhyme with finch Spanish Central: Translation of finch Nglish: Translation of finch for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about finch
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