American Goldfinch

Female American Goldfinch

Male American Goldfinch

Known to be a bright and cheery song bird the American Goldfinch  will delight any back yard bird watcher. The American Goldfinch is commonly seen in weedy fields, backyards,  shrubs and may also be seen along roadsides. During the winter months the American Goldfinch spends a good part of its time among the shrubs.

The American Goldfinch differs  from other finches in that it has both a non-breeding and breeding plumage. It also waits until late June or early July to look for a suitable nesting sight, bird house taking  advantage of the abundant  seeds from the dandelions and thistles to insure it’s young of a suitable food source.

The American Goldfinch male has a bright yellow body, a black forehead ,wings, and tail feathers. It’s wings have white bars or streaks, and it has  an orange bill. The female American Goldfinch is more of a olive yellow color consisting of its upper parts and belly with a yellow throat  and breast, and has an orange bill.

Non-breeding females are a drab grayish in color, brownish back with 2 pale wing bars. A non-breeding male has an olive brown back with a yellow tinged head and gray under parts.

America Goldfinch like to feed on seeds. Their primary seed is the thistle from the birch and alder trees. They also like to feast on insects, berries and yes your back yard feeders.