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AMERICAN GOLDFINCH FACTS Official name is Carduelis tristis. The American Goldfinch's name means "sad thistle seed eater". While it's true that thistle seed is its favourite food, there's nothing sad about this cheerful and pretty little bird!
The Goldfinches measurements are between 11 and 14 centimetres (4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches) long and weigh from 11.8 to 13.3 grams (1/3 to 1/2 ounce).
Where do Goldfinches Live? American Goldfinches live coast to coast from Southern Canada through most of the United States. As temperatures fall, they will move south from their northernmost territories to more moderate climates. In winter they can be found south to Mexico and Florida. They rarely winter in the interior parts of the United States.
Goldfinches can be found almost everywhere. They live in cities and towns, rural areas, wooded areas and anywhere they can find a good supply of their favourite foods.
Goldfinches and Their Young In July and August the birds form pairs and begin to nest. The male courts the female with a beautiful canary-like song. The nesting location is always near a good supply of thistle. The female builds a nest of woven plant fibres that is lined with thistledown or milkweed down. She lays four to six pale blue eggs, which hatch from between 12 to 16 days. The babies hatch without feathers and with their eyes closed. Their parents feed them seeds which have been partly digested and regurgitated into their mouths. By the time they are 10 to 16 days old they are ready to leave the nest. The parents continue to supplement them with food until they learn to fly strongly and until they learn to self-feed.
A Goldfinch looks a little smaller than sparrows. In spring and summer, the male is bright yellow with black wings, cap and tail. Males have narrow white wing bars. Females are duller in colour. In winter, both males and females are brownish or greyish above, but the male has a yellow wash on the head. Young birds are similar to the female in colour but they are cinnamon above and on the wing bars. Goldfinches have short, cone-shaped beaks and notched tails. They are often called wild canaries.
Goldfinch like to eat thistle seed but they also enjoy seeds from birches, alders, conifers and other trees. They also eat seeds from goldenrod, asters, burdock, dandelion, chicory as well as garden seeds. They come to feeders for sunflower seed and Niger seeds (thistle). Berries and insects are also a part of their diet.
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