Overview

American Goldfinch: Small, noisy finch. Male has a bright yellow body, black cap, wings, and tail, and white rump and undertail coverts. Wings have flashy white patches and bright yellow shoulder bar. Bill is conical. Undulating flight, alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.

Range and Habitat

American Goldfinch: Breeds from southern British Columbia east to Newfoundland and south to California, Utah, southern Colorado, central Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the Carolinas. Spends winters throughout much of U.S.; prefers brushy thickets, weedy grasslands, and nearby trees.

Breeding and Nesting

American Goldfinch: Four to six pale blue to white blue eggs are laid in a well-made cup of grass, bark strips, and plant down, and built in a small sapling or shrub. Incubation typically ranges from 10 to 12 days and is carried out by the female; male feeds her on the nest.

Foraging and Feeding

American Goldfinch: Feeds primarily on seeds; prefers hanging onto seed heads rather than feeding on the ground.

Readily Eats

Suet, Millet, Thistle, Fruit, Sunflower Seeds (hulled)

Vocalization

American Goldfinch: Emits a jumbled series of musical warbles and trills, often with a drawn-out "baybee" note. Flight song resembles "per-chick-oree" or "po-tato-chips."

Similar Species

American Goldfinch: Yellow Warbler lacks black wings and tail. Lesser Goldfinch has yellow undertail coverts.