ExploreBird

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

The American Goldfinch is a cheerful little bird with bright yellow feathers. It loves to sing sweet songs while flitting around gardens and meadows.

Habitat: Fields, gardens, and open woods

Appearance

The American Goldfinch is a small songbird with a distinctive undulating flight. Males are brilliant lemon-yellow with a contrasting black cap, black wings, and prominent white wing bars. Females are a duller olive-yellow, while both sexes have a short, conical, pinkish bill.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyFringillidaeGenusSpinus

American Goldfinch

Interesting facts

Goldfinch chicks are one of the only songbirds fed exclusively seeds, not insects!

The male's vibrant yellow color comes from pigments absorbed from their plant-based diet.

Their tightly woven nests are so strong they can sometimes hold water, accidentally drowning chicks!

They are the only finch species to completely molt their body feathers twice a year.

Special abilities

American Goldfinch has a specially shaped, conical bill that helps them efficiently extract tiny seeds from plants like thistles.

American Goldfinch can fly in a distinctive bouncy, wave-like pattern because of strong wing beats followed by short glides.

American Goldfinch can time their nesting period for late summer because it allows them to use ripe thistle seeds for food.

Measurements & details

Length: 11-14 cm
Wingspan: 19-22 cm
Weight: 0.011-0.02 kg
Lifespan: 3-7 years
Top Speed: 56 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-6
Incubation: 12-14 days
Migration Distance: 1500 km

Diet & Feeding

These tiny birds love to eat seeds, especially thistle and sunflower seeds, making them herbivores.

Primary Foods

Thistle seeds
Sunflower seeds
Dandelion seeds
Composite flower seeds
Tree buds

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

depends on

Canada Thistle

Cirsium arvense

Main food source for seeds

depends on

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Popular seed source

eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Common predator of songbirds

depends on

Fuller's Teasel

Dipsacus fullonum

Seeds and nesting material

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Aerial

Discover amazing creatures that spend much of their lives soaring high above the ground, often using wings to fly! They might hunt, travel, or even sleep up in the sky.

Singing

Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature's singers! These animals use their voices to attract friends, mark their territory, or even warn others.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.