American goldfinch

latin: Spinus tristis

Did you know that American Finches are one of the strictest vegetarian birds in the world! That’s why it's so important to keep open areas wild! By Allowing native weeds such as the thistle, sunflowers, and other species thrive we help American goldfinches thrive.  

I often see American goldfinches hanging on the tops of thistles, nimbly picking out seeds while swaying from the in the wind.

These agile birds are among the brightest colored birds in North America, so you can’t miss them swooping in and out of our yards and along roadsides.

It's during the spring American finches go through their first molt, and it’s at this time of season the males change into that vibrant canary-yellow plumage they are known for. This bright yellow color comes from carotenoid pigments in their diets. The carotenoid pigments are found in plant material, and although both males and females each the same diets, males utilize their feather in higher concentrations than females, making males brighter and attractive to the female.

The American goldfinch will undergo an autumn molt that changes the male’s plumage from bright yellow to a dull olive, or near gray, quite identical to the female. Both will exhibit the back cap on their head, the main difference is that males will keep a yellow bar on their wings.

If you are looking to bring these beautiful backyard birds in your jungle or on your patio try setting up a Nyjer feeder. These feeders are specially designed to hold thistle seeds and other small sought-after food sources for the American Finch. Others such as Redpolls and Pineskisin will visit these feeders, but they are going to need small beaks like the Finch.

The American Finch will also visit your other feeders and birdbath as well, keeping them clean and enjoyable will keep finches around even more.

American Goldfinch Food Preference

• Black sunflower seed
• Stripe sunflower seed
• Sunflower hearts
• White millet
• Red millet
• Canary seed
• Nyjer (thistle seed)

American finches’ range across North America from coast to coast, a southern range to northern Mexican and northern range in southern Canada.

If you’re looking to see a nesting American finch Keep an eye out later in the season, finches nest after most other birds have already nested. Also look up, about 30 feet, American finches prefer to nest higher in bushes and deciduous trees branches as long as there is ample food nearby.

 The female takes a little under a week to build a nest, and It takes about just over a month from egg to independent hatching.  The parents can still help out in the weeks after that, but it doesn’t take long before the new babies are out on their own.