Spinus tristis

American goldfinches feed mostly seeds to their nestlings, a diet that has proven inadequate for young cowbirds. Brown-headed cowbirds are brood parasites that lay eggs in the nest of other species. When they lay eggs in American goldfinch nests, though, the cowbird young rarely survive.

 
Photo Credit: Geoffrey A. Hammerson
Spinus tristis
Common Name: American goldfinch
Other Scientific Names: Carduelis tristis
Animal Guild: Bird
Class > Order > Family: Aves > Passeriformes > Fringillidae
What does the species look like?

Breeding adult males: Bright yellow with black wings, a bold white wing-bar, and a black forehead.

Breeding adult females: Yellow-brown plumage with dark wings and light wing-bars.

Nonbreeding males: Resemble adult females but have yellow patches on their head and throat, and yellow lesser wing coverts (feathers that cover other feathers).

Nonbreeding females: A brownish back, grayish underparts, and buffy (light brownish-yellow) wing bars.

Both sexes: White undertail coverts.

Length 13 cm (5 inches), wingspan 23 cm (9 inches).
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AB, AL, AR, AZ, BC, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NB, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NL, NM, NS, NV, NY, OH, OK, ON, OR, PA, PE, QC, RI, SC, SD, SK, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
Distribution

The breeding range extends from southern Canada (southern British Columbia east to southwestern Newfoundland) south to southwestern California and northern Baja California, Arizona, New Mexico, extreme northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, central Alabama, central Georgia, and South Carolina. The winter range extends from southern Canada and the northern United States south to northern Baja California, northern Mexico, New Mexico, Texas, the U.S. Gulf Coast, and southern Florida.
 

This species likes weedy fields, cultivated lands, open woodland, forest edges, second growth, shrubbery, orchards, and farmlands. Although American goldfinches usually build nests in small trees or bushes 0.3-10 meters (1-33 feet) above ground, they sometimes nest in thistles near the ground.
General Phenology and Life History

Northern populations are migratory, whereas southern breeders are year-round residents. Overall, spring migrations peak from mid-April to early June, and fall migrations peak from late October to mid-December. The timing varies across the species' large range. American goldfinches nest relatively late for songbirds. In most areas, they lay eggs primarily in late June, July, and August, sometimes in May or September, although some populations in California and Baja California nest from April to early July. They incubate eggs for 12-14 days, and the young leave the nest 11-17 days after hatching. The young depend on one or both parents for food for about three weeks after fledging.
 
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see/hear...?
Activity Live individuals
One or more individuals are seen or heard moving about or at rest.
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Feeding
One or more individuals are seen feeding or foraging. If possible, record the name of the species or substance being eaten or describe it in the comments field.

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Fruit/seed consumption
One or more individuals are seen eating the fleshy fruits, seeds, or cones of a plant. If possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field.

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Insect consumption
One or more individuals are seen eating insects. If possible, record the name of the insect or describe it in the comments field.

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Calls or song
One or more individuals are heard calling or singing.

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Singing individuals
One or more individuals are heard singing. Singing refers to stereotypical, simple or elaborate vocalizations (most commonly by males) used as part of territorial proclamation or defense, or mate attraction. It does not include relatively simple calls used for other forms of communication.

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Territorial individuals
One or more individuals are seen or heard defending a territory. This may be indicated by calls or song used as part of a territorial proclamation, chasing of an individual of the same species from a breeding area (but do not confuse this with courtship behavior, which in some species may involve chasing), or calls or displays directed at individuals of the same or a different species to defend a feeding area.

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Reproduction Courtship
A male and female are seen near one another and are engaged in courtship behavior. Do not include male displays in the absence of a female.

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Mating
A male and female are seen coupled in a mating position, usually with the male on top of the female.

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Nest building
One or more adults are seen constructing a nest or carrying nesting material.

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Occupied nest
One or more adults are seen sitting on a nest, entering or leaving a nest site under circumstances indicating its use for nesting (including nest defense behavior), or live eggs or nestlings are seen in a nest.

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Development Nestlings
One or more young are seen or heard in a nest.

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Fledged young
One or more young are seen recently departed from the nest. This includes young incapable of sustained flight and young which are still dependent on adults.

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Dead individuals
One or more dead individuals are seen.

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Dead nestlings or fledglings
One ore more dead nestlings or young are seen.

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Method Individuals at a feeding station
One or more individuals are seen visiting a feeder, feeding station, or food placed by a person.

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What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.