Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is one of our favorite backyard visitors. Hungry flocks of sociable Goldfinches can be seen at our backyard feeders in late spring. Goldfinches will mate from late June to September. Their late mating season is due to the food source they prefer to give their young. This is the time weed seeds and thistle begin to ripen.

Amercan Goldfinch - Identified as 5" long. Male is a small canary-yellow bird with black wings, tail, forehead and white wing bars. Female is a dull olive-yellow with blackish wings and conspicuous wing bars.

Goldfinches are found in weedy fields, orchards, open second growth woodlands, roadsides, especially in patches of thistles and sunflowers. Goldfinches feed predominantly on weed seeds and insects when available.