American
Goldfinch
(Carduelis tristis)
 American
GoldfinchInformation Length: 4.5 - 5 " Habitat: Weedy fields, open areas with scattered trees, woodland edges, roadsides, thickets, shrubby wetlands, residential areas with trees. |
||||
| Photo © Mike Danzenbaker | ||||
| Diet: Seeds of grasses and | Click to enlarge | |||
|
trees; thistle, ragweed, and dandelion seeds; buds; some berries and insects. |
||||
 Identification
tips for the American Goldfinch |
||||
 Songs
and calls of American Goldfinch |
||||
| © The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithica, New York. Recordists: R. Little, A. Allen | ||||
| RANGE MAPS | ||||
| (Click map to enlarge.) | ||||
 |
 |
 |
||
| Breeding Map | Winter Map (CBC) | |||
| NESTING AND BREEDING | ||||
| Territory | ||||
| American
Goldfinches are not strongly territorial birds. However, they will
defend the immediate area around the nest - driving away other goldfinches
that come too close. While the female builds the nest, the male can sometimes be seen flying in a circular motion high above the nest site - or he many sit and sing from a nearby perch. |
||||
| Nest | ||||
|
The
cup-shaped nest is usually from 4 to 14 feet above the ground, but
can be found as high as 30 feet. It's often found in a group of
upright branches of a tree or bush, or in the fork of a horizontal
branch of a tree. The nest is built of grasses, strips of bark, and other plant fibers, bound together on the outside with spider silk and caterpillar webbing. It's lined with plant down - often from thistle, milkweed, or cattails. |
||||
| Incubation and Fledging | ||||
| The American Goldfinch lays 4 to 6 pale blue or bluish white eggs. While the female incubates the eggs, she is fed by the male. The eggs hatch in about 10 to 12 days and the nestlings are fed by both parents. The young leave the nest 11 to 17 days after hatching. | ||||
| Photo of American Goldfinch pair at nest | ||||
| Photo of American Goldfinch at nest with young | ||||
| BEHAVIOR AND HABITS | ||||
| The
American Goldfinch is one of the latest songbirds to begin nesting.
In New England, breeding usually occurs in the late summer. Since
thistle down is commonly used for nest building, breeding typically
coincides with the time when thistles produce their seed. Goldfinches are usually monogamous for each breeding season, but will change mates from one year to the next. This bird can be recognized, not only by its bright yellow summer plumage, but also by its roller coaster-like flight. Each time it dips downward, it sings its "per-chick-o-ree" song. Goldfinches are highly gregarious and will usually flock together during the nonbreeding season. They are often joined by Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, and American Tree Sparrows. |
||||