American Goldfinch

Description

BREEDING MALE

American Goldfinch

Female

	Female plumage duller than male
	Yellow below, olive yellow above
	Lacks black cap of breeding-plumaged male
	Strong wingbars

Seasonal change in appearance

Winter plumage: Male loses black cap, has strong wing-bars. Both sexes duller and browner in appearance. White undertail coverts.

Winter female:

Juvenile

Similar to female.

Habitat

Found in weedy fields, farmlands, open woodlands, and along forest edge. Also frequents second-growth habitats, parks and suburban yards.

Diet

Seeds, occasionally insects. Readily attracted to backyard feeders for sunflower and Nyjer®. (WBFI)

Behavior

Undulating, bouncy flight. Frequent flight call is per-chik-or-ree or po-ta-to-chip with emphasis on second syllable. Feeds in flocks. Often seen foraging for seeds in weeds, shrubs and trees.

Range

Found throughout most of the United States some part of the year. Summer range extends into southern Canada, winter range into parts of Mexico.

More information:

Bent Life History

Visit the Bent Life History for extensive additional information on the American Goldfinch.

Wing Shape

The shape of a bird's wing is often an indication of its habits and behavior. Fast flying birds have long, pointed wings. Soaring birds have long, broad wings. Different songbirds will have a slightly different wing shape. Some species look so much alike (Empidonax flycatchers) that scientists sometimes use the length of specific feathers to confirm a species' identification.

- Male American Goldfinch, Maine, April

- Underside of same wing

Wing images from the University of Puget Sound, Slater Museum of Natural History

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Fun Facts

One or two broods per year. Monogamous during the first nesting. Females may switch mates after the first brood, leaving her original mate to take care of the fledglings.

Vocalizations

Common flight call is 'per-chik-or-ree', with emphasis on second syllable. Often described as sounding like po-ta-to-chip.

Also, high-pitched musical song.

Purchase ringtone for this species www.feathertalk.com

Learn to identify bird songs with the Stokes Eastern or Western Field Guide to Bird Songs on CD.

Similar Species

Lesser Goldfinch - male - breeding plumage

The Lesser Goldfinch is found in the western United States.

Green or black back (psaltria race), dark cheek and yellow under-tail coverts separate from breeding male American Goldfinch.
Lesser Goldfinch - female

Female Lesser Goldfinch is very similar to female American Goldfinch.

Bill light on American Goldfinch, dark on the Lesser Goldfinch.

Under-tail coverts white on American Goldfinch, yellow on Lesser Goldfinch.

Nesting

The American Goldfinch is a late nester, often waiting well into the summer to begin nest building. Nests in shrubs or trees, generally 2-33 feet above the ground. Nest is a cup-shaped structure built from plant fibers and lined with plant down. Nest attached to branch with spider silk. Female incubates the eggs and both sexes care for the young.

Eggs

Number: 3-7, usually 4-6.

Color: Light blue to greenish blue. No markings.

Incubation and fledging

Young hatch at about 11-14 days.

Young are able to fly when they are approximately 11-17 days old.

American Goldfinch nest

Professor Bird

Attracting

Goldfinches are a popular feeder bird and will consume sunflower, suet and Nyjer® (WBFI). Long tube feeders filled with Nyjer or sunflower can be covered in goldfinches in a spectacular manner. Feeding Nyjer in a seed sock is a good way to attract goldfinches without House Sparrows, starlings or grackles butting in.

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