Our Wild Neighbors
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
A visitor to Southern Canada bird feeders
© Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke
Description of the animal
- In spring and summer, their nuptial plumage is bright yellow, with a black cap on the head, and black wings and tail (the males’ wings are striped with white bars). The female's plumage is olive-yellow, with touches of yellow on the neck and breast.
- In autumn, they moult completely, and the male begins to resemble the female: his head and neck are now pale yellow, his back is olive-brown, and his breast brownish-beige. Males can be identified by their yellow shoulders.
- The contrasting white rump is visible in flight.
Habitat and needs
- These birds adore thistle and sunflower seeds. The American Goldfinch is a strict vegetarian, and can eat head-down, hanging from bird feeders or the tops of seeds and grasses.
- They moult again in the spring; this is the only member of the Carduelis family to have mating plumage.
- Feeding and traveling in flocks, the American Goldfinch is a sociable bird, except during the nesting period.
- These birds beat their wings rapidly to gain height, and then let themselves drop momentarily, wings closed. What a lively flight style!
- They reproduce later than most other birds, at the end of June or in July, when there is plenty of food and plant fibre for nest building.
- Remaining calm, even when someone robs its nest, the American Goldfinch is really good-natured.
- The male feeds his companion while she broods the eggs.
- Their nest is so well made that it can hold water—unfortunately their nestlings can be drowned during heavy rains.
Relationship
- Amateur birdwatchers love the American Goldfinch; they find them easy to identify, especially during the breeding season.
- The American Goldfinch helps spread seeds.
Living with them
- The American Goldfinch likes open ground, such as weedy fields with asters, sunflowers, thistles, milkweed, and grasses. It is also attracted to garden lettuce that has gone to seed.
- Planting young trees or shrubs such as birch, maple, dogwood, or elderberry will provide nesting sites.
- To prevent them from contracting contagious diseases, rake the earth around the base of bird feeders.
Participating cities where this animal has been seen
- Sherbrooke, Québec
- Regina, Saskatchewan
- Vernon, British Columbia
- Moncton, New Brunswick