American Goldfinch

Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage
Scientific Name
Spinus tristis
Family
Fringillidae (finches) in the order Passeriformes
Description

Goldfinches are often seen in flocks during fall, winter, and spring and at bird feeders. The males and females have different color patterns in spring and winter.

  • Starting in spring, the upperparts of the male American goldfinch are bright yellow, with black wings, tail, and forehead, and 2 white wing bars and tail spots. The underparts are bright yellow.
  • In springtime females, the upperparts are greenish yellow, with dark wings and tail; the underparts are pale yellowish.
  • In winter, the male resembles the female, with brownish underparts, blackish wings, and yellowish face.
  • The female in winter is grayer with brownish wings.

The song is a long jumble of warbles, whistles, and twitters. Calls include “per-chick-o-ree” and “sueweeet,” often given during their characteristic undulating flight.

Similar species: The short, conical bill of this finch species helps separate it from the many warblers that are yellow.

Size

Length: 5 inches.

Where To Find
image of American Goldfinch Distribution Map

Statewide.

American goldfinches are often seen in flocks on the ground or in trees in open grasslands, city parks, yards, weedy fields, and fields with mature sunflowers, thistles, and other members of the sunflower family.

Goldfinches forage on the ground or among vegetation for seeds, berries, and occasionally, insects. They frequently visit bird feeders that offer sunflower and nyjer/niger seeds.

Goldfinches feed their young thistle seeds and other midsummer sunflower-family seeds, which they regurgitate into the mouths of the young. This is a rather unusual diet for the nestlings, because most small birds feed insects (a more concentrated source of protein) to their young.

Common permanent resident.

Goldfinches pair up and begin nesting when most composite flowers begin to bloom. One of the latest nesting species in Missouri, goldfinches wait until July and August to begin raising their broods, corresponding with the development of thistle, coneflower, sunflower, and other composite-family seeds. Goldfinches commonly use the soft silk of milkweed and thistles in their cup-shaped nests. There are usually 2–7 eggs per clutch. The female does about 95 percent of the incubation, which lasts about 2 weeks. Young fledge in 11–17 days.

Colorful and energetic, the American goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey, and Washington.

Goldfinches entertain snowbound people when they visit backyard feeders. When the males start turning bright yellow, it is a welcome sign of spring.

The survival of American goldfinches is closely linked to thistles and other composite-family flowers: Their breeding time corresponds with the seed availability from those plants, and they use the down from the seeds as nesting material.

Brown-headed cowbirds are a bane to many birds, as they sneakily lay their eggs in the nests of other species, which unwittingly raise aggressive cowbird chicks beside their own. Studies have found that cowbird chicks, however, do not survive in goldfinch nests because of the seeds-only diet that goldfinches provide.

Media Gallery
Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage
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Photograph of a female American goldfinch in breeding plumage
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Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in winter plumage
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Photograph of a female American goldfinch in winter plumage
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photo of an American goldfinch perched on a tree branch covered by ice
Noppadol Paothong
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Video of an American goldfinch in the wild.
Kevin Muenks
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Listen to a goldfinch
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Yellow bird with black highlights perched on a stalk.
Submitted by Denise Kramer
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Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage
Photograph of a female American goldfinch in breeding plumage
Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in winter plumage
Photograph of a female American goldfinch in winter plumage
photo of an American goldfinch perched on a tree branch covered by ice
A bright yellow bird with black markings on its wings and head perches on a branch.
Photograph of a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage
Yellow bird with black highlights perched on a stalk.
Similar Species

Where to See Species

Trail through the woods.
Flatwoods Conservation Area
This is a forest area that has an archery and firearms range. This area has unimproved roads that are open to public vehicles. These roads may not be shown on area maps or posted with signs.
Field of wildflowers in front of rolling hills.
Frost Island Conservation Area
In 1996, seven tracts totaling 916 acres were acquired as part of the Emergency Wetland Reserve Program (EWRP), which was initiated after the flood of 1993 which lasted for 175 days.
Wetlands found at Diana Bend CA
Diana Bend Conservation Area
This 1,343-acre area is bounded on the south by the Missouri River, on the east by Moniteau Creek, on the north by the Katy Trail, and on the west by a levee.
About Birds in Missouri

About 350 species of birds are likely to be seen in Missouri, though nearly 400 have been recorded within our borders. Most people know a bird when they see one — it has feathers, wings, and a bill. Birds are warm-blooded, and most species can fly. Many migrate hundreds or thousands of miles. Birds lay hard-shelled eggs (often in a nest), and the parents care for the young. Many communicate with songs and calls.

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