The American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is a small bird, just 4-5 inches in length. It has a small conical beak which is pink most of the year. The shape and size of the beak aid in the extraction of seeds from seed heads of thistles and sunflowers, the mainstay of the American Goldfinch's diet.

During the mating season the male goldfinch has a bright yellow body, black wings with white stripes, a white rump, and a black cap on its head. Its beak turns a bright orange after the spring molt signaling the start of mating season. The female's coloring is a dull greenish yellow. After molting its beak matches the male's.

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The American Goldfinch's winter and breeding range includes the southern parts of Canada and most of the continental United States. The northern birds will migrate south, but the American Goldfinch can be seen along the coasts and in the midlands year round.

The American Goldfinch breeds mid to late summer when the seeds are plentiful rather than early spring. Consequently they only raise one brood a year. As with many birds, the courtship rituals include singing and aerial maneuvers. The aerial display starts with the male in hot pursuit of the female. The female evades him by flying in a zigzag pattern through their territory. Once she's determined that the male is fit enough, they fly in circles together with the male warbling throughout the flight.

The male takes up sentry duty while the female builds a cup-shaped nest in a fork of a tree or bush. The nest is made of plant fibers and bark taking close to a week to build. The female then lays a clutch of four to six eggs and incubates them for about two weeks. The hatchlings are ready to leave the nest within 10 to 14 days.

The immature American Goldfinch is a dull brown with a pale yellow underside. Their shoulders and tail are black, and the markings on their wings and rump are buff-colored rather than white. By their first spring they're sporting their true colors.

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The American Goldfinch is a warbler. Its musical song includes a series of per-chik-o-ree, per-chik-o-ree, per-chik-o-ree's.
Listen to the song of the American Goldfinch: Sound Byte: Goldfinch, National Park Service

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This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.

The American Goldfinch's diet consists of a wide variety of seeds. The thistle seed is the seed of choice, but it will consume the seeds of dandelions, ragweed, mullein, and sunflowers as well. Using its long legs and claws, the Goldfinch will perch on top of the plant and strip the seed-head clean. They rarely feed at birdfeeders when there are plants around to forage through, but it will readily take a handout in the winter. Add thistle seed to the mix in the winter and they're bound to come around.

Gazebo Bird Feeder w/ Cedar Roof

You and the birds will love this beautiful gazebo bird feeder with decorative moulding, routed arches, and a cedar roof. It's perfect for small songbirds.

Gazebo Bird Feeder w/ Tile Roof

This is a beautiful bird feeder with decorative moulding, routed arches, and a distinctive tile roof. It is excellent for small songbirds.

Avant Garden 8501-3 Cottage Lantern Bird Feeder

I love watching the birds in my backyard, and nothing attracts the birds better than a birdfeeder. The Avant Garden Cottage Lantern Feeder is an excellent choice.

No/No C00322 Red Cardinal Feeder

The Red Cardinal Feeder will attract the Northern Cardinals as well as a wide variety of seed eaters.

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The backyard birder can attract the American Goldfinch by offering Nyjer thistle seed in birdfeeders, or by planting grasses or flowers that produce seed heads such as zinnias, cosmos and globe thistles. The American Goldfinch is a delight to watch and whatever efforts are needed to entice it into visiting your backyard habitat will be well worth the effort.

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