As winter approaches, the goldfinch moves short distances towards the south. The American Goldfinch breeds across southern Canada from British Columbia to the island of Newfoundland and through most of the United States north of the Gulf states. Thus, while the greater abundance of seeds in late summer compared to May or June may be important in ensuring larger supplies of food for the young, completion of moult rather than food availability may determine the timing of the American Goldfinch’s breeding. Scientists suggest that the prolonged moult, which is unusual in a bird of the temperate zone, may be the only way a bird on a protein-poor seed diet can fulfill the energy demands of breeding. In most finches, the feathers are gradually worn down through use, resulting in a changed appearance by the time the breeding season arrives. The American Goldfinch is the only cardueline finch to acquire its breeding plumage by moult. Some have suggested that the timing of breeding is linked to the bird’s unusual habit of moulting, or shedding feathers. The American Goldfinch breeds late in the year, from July to September, a fact that has puzzled many scientists. In winter it mingles with its relatives-the redpolls and siskins-feeding in weedy fields and in orchards close to wooded areas. Except during the nesting season, it is a sociable bird that seeks its own kind to feed and fly with. The American Goldfinch prefers trees in open places, especially in orchards and along roadsides. They utter this sound for the first month after they leave the nest until they are completely independent. Shortly before fledging, the young develop a fledging call that sounds like chick-kee or chick-wee. When he flies over the nest, displaying and calling with his esophagus full of seed, the female responds to her mate’s calls with a soft continuous teeteeteeteete sound. While the female is incubating, or warming, the eggs, she is dependent on her mate for food. At the first sign of danger the male or female will whistle sweet or call bearbee, bearbee, bee, bearbee. When the male accompanies the female to search for nesting materials, he perches nearby, singing and calling to his mate. The American Goldfinch is easily detected in the spring or summer as a flash of yellow, flying with an undulating motion and calling perchicoree, perchicoree. The female has an olive rump instead of a pale one. In summer the adult male is black or olive above, rather than yellow, and he retains the black cap all year. It is slightly smaller than the American Goldfinch, measuring about 10 cm in length. The male’s lesser coverts-the feathers covering the shoulders-are yellow.ĭuring their first autumn and winter the juveniles are wood brown above with buffy, rather than white, wing markings and dull black shoulders, which distinguish them from the adults.Ī bird similar in appearance to the American Goldfinch, the Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria, is occasionally seen in British Columbia. ![]() The face and neck are a pale yellow, only a hint of the bright yellow of summer. ![]() Their wings are black with white wing bars, and the black tail is etched with white. They are buff-coloured below and olive brown above. The summer female is olive yellow, with a bib of yellow on her neck and breast.Īfter a complete moult in the fall, the birds grow plumage that is almost identical in colour for both sexes. In flight, a white rump contrasts with the black tail. The male assumes brilliant canary yellow plumage and a striking jet black cap. ![]() In spring the birds moult, or shed, all but their black wing and tail feathers, and the bills of both sexes turn orange. The goldfinch averages 11 cm in length, much the same size as the English Sparrow, and weighs about 11 g. With its short, heavy, conical beak, the American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis is typical of North American seed-eating birds that are members of the finch ( Fringillidae) family.
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