Last Updated on by Mitch Rezman
The American Goldfinch is a small, diurnal bird known for its distinctive characteristics:
- **Physical Appearance**:
– Adult males in spring and early summer are bright yellow with black foreheads, black wings with white markings, and white patches both above and beneath the tail.
– During the winter, both males and females boast brownish feathers on their bodies. In warmer months, the male’s feathers are bright yellow.
- **Behavior**:
– The goldfinch is a diurnal bird, most active during the day, with excellent flying skills, dipping and rising in a wavelike pattern as it soars.
– They are sociable and exhibit untiring activity, often seen in sizable flocks during migration.
- **Diet**:
– American goldfinches are granivores, mainly eating seeds such as sunflower, thistle, and elm seeds. They also feed on buds, sap, berries, and occasionally insects.
- **Habitat**:
– They live at the edges of forests and plains across North America, in areas filled with thistle plants, and can also be found in backyards and parks.
- **Vocalizations**:
– They have six different vocalizations, including their “po-ta-to-chip” call. Mating goldfinches sing virtually identical songs during flight.
- **Other Facts**:
– They are strict seed-eaters and easy to attract to feeders. Any size, shape, or style feeder should work, as they are not picky.
The American Goldfinch is a visually striking and sociable bird with unique characteristics that make it a popular sight in North America.
The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) has a wide range, breeding across North America from coast to coast. Its summer range is bounded on the north by Saskatchewan and stretches south across North America to northern California on the west coast.
The winter range of the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) includes southern Canada and stretches south through the United States to parts of Mexico.
During the winter, in the northern part of its range, the finch may move nearer to feeders if they are available. In southern ranges, during winter, they remain in areas like fields and flood plains where they live during the summer months.
They are most abundant in areas with thistle plants and near feeders.
The American Goldfinch is a small but one of the most widespread birds in North America, and it is known for its distinctive undulating flight pattern and its vibrant yellow plumage in the summer.
They prefer open countries such as fields, meadows, and flood plains, as well as roadsides, orchards, and gardens.
In winter, they may also be found in open deciduous and riparian woodlands and areas of secondary growth. They are most abundant in areas with thistle plants and near feeders.
Feathered factoid ~ The Mexican House finch lines its nest with used cigarette butts somehow knowing the nicotine is toxic to parasites.
FYI ~ Tobacco water is produced by boiling strong tobacco in water, or by steeping the tobacco in water for a longer period. When cool, the mixture can be applied with a spray, or ‘painted’ onto the leaves of garden plants, where it will prove deadly to insects.
Written by Mitch Rezman and the Windy City Parrot Content Team.
Mexican house finches (Below)
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