Habitat
They are often found in coniferous forests including pine, Douglas-fir, spruce, and fir. They can also be found in deciduous forests such as aspen, cottonwood, oak, maple, and hickory. During migration they use a wide variety of habitats. They make nests out of twigs, leaves, and moss, and they line it with softer material like grass, hair, or fine pieces of moss. They usually build their nests on the ground, in depressions on sloped surfaces or rock faces. They can also nest inside or under buildings, window ledges, or in hanging flower pots.
They eat mainly seed such as chickweed, buckwheat, lamb’s quarters, sorrel, and similar such seeds. At feeders they prefer millet. During breeding season sometimes they also eat insects such as beetles, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, ants, wasps, and flies.