American Goldfinch
(Carduelis tristis)

Quick Facts

	Goldfinches are members of the finch family.
	They are a little smaller than a sparrow.
	Males are bright yellow with black wings, cap and tail in summer.
	Females are duller yellow in colour.
	Immatures are like females but they are cinnamon above and have cinnamon wing bars.
	Males sing like canaries.
	They have cone-shaped beaks.
	They live from southern Canada through most of the United States
	They are seed eaters. Their favourite seed is thistle.
	They also eat berries and insects.
	Females lay 4 to 6 pale blue eggs that hatch in 12 - 14 days
	Young are fed regurgitated seeds.
	Young fledge between 10 to 16 days.
	They move south to warmer weather in winter, to Mexico and Florida.

The American Goldfinch's name means "sad thistle seed eater". While it's true that thistle seed is its favourite food, there's nothing sad about this cheerful and pretty little bird!

What do Goldfinches look like?

Gold finches are a little smaller than sparrows. In spring and summer, the male is bright yellow with black wings, cap and tail. Males have narrow white wing bars. Females are duller in colour. In winter, both males and females are brownish or greyish above, but the male has a yellow wash on the head. Young birds are similar to the female in colour but they are cinnamon above and on the wing bars. Goldfinches have short, cone-shaped beaks and notched tails. They are often called wild canaries.

Goldfinches live in mixed flocks and bound through the air in deeply undulating flight. Flocks often sing in chorus and males sing even in flight.

Where do Goldfinches Live?

American Goldfinches live coast to coast from Southern Canada through most of the United States. As temperatures fall, they will move south from their northernmost territories to more moderate climates. In winter they can be found south to Mexico and Florida. They rarely winter in the interior parts of the United States.

Goldfinches can be found almost everywhere. They live in cities and towns, rural areas, wooded areas and anywhere they can find a good supply of their favourite foods.

What do Goldfinches Eat?

Their favourite food is thistle seed but they also enjoy seeds from birches, alders, conifers and other trees. They also eat seeds from goldenrod, asters, burdock, dandelion, chicory as well as garden seeds. They come to feeders for sunflower seed and Niger seeds (thistle). Berries and insects are also a part of their diet.

Goldfinches and Their Young

In July and August the birds form pairs and begin to nest. The male courts the female with a beautiful canary-like song. The nesting location is always near a good supply of thistle. The female builds a nest of woven plant fibres that is lined with thistledown or milkweed down. She lays four to six pale blue eggs, which hatch from between 12 to 16 days. The babies hatch without feathers and with their eyes closed. Their parents feed them seeds which have been partly digested and regurgitated into their mouths. By the time they are 10 to 16 days old they are ready to leave the nest. The parents continue to supplement them with food until they learn to fly strongly and until they learn to self-feed.

When nesting season is over, the goldfinches come together and form flocks that live together and fill the air with their cheerful songs.

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American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

Quick Facts

American Goldfinch
(Carduelis tristis)