Carduelis tristis
Bill Dunn, Huntley Meadows Park
The American Goldfinch is
a small bird, growing up to five inches long. The males, in
breeding season, are the easiest to identify, because they
are bright yellow with black and white markings. In the
Winter, the males lose their bright yellow feathers and
become dull brown. They keep the black and white markings
though. Females are dull year-round. American Goldfinches live
in brushy thickets,
weedy fields, gardens, and roadsides. Since they eat mostly
seeds from grasses and wildflowers, they tend to stay where
there are a lot of these food sources. Copyright, Mike
Danzenbaker, www.avesphoto.com
Copyright, Dr. Dan Sudia
Male goldfinches get
their bright yellow feathers in the Spring, but these birds
don't breed until late Summer. The female builds the nest,
which includes materials such as: weeds, vines,
catkins,
grass, wood fibers, spider silk, and caterpillar webs. They
also use down (fluffy stuff) from thistles, milkweed, and
cattails. Sometimes, goldfinches take parts from other
birds' nest to use for their own. Goldfinches usually nest
in a dense
shrub or pine tree. American Goldfinches lay
four or five pale blue eggs, and the female incubates
(sits on) them while the male hunts for food. Baby finches
hatch in about two weeks. In another two weeks, they will
take their first flight. Copyright, Peter
LaTourrette, http://birdphotography.com
Copyright, R. W. Scott, Birds in Flight
