Finches (Fringillidae)
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis. One of the strictest vegetarians among songbirds — almost entirely seeds.
- Scientific name
- Spinus tristis
- Length
- 4.3–5.1 in
- Weight
- 0.4–0.7 oz
- Nest
- Tight cup in shrubs or saplings, lined with thistle or cattail down; nests late, in July–September
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Incubation
- 12–14 days
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
Identification
- Breeding male bright yellow with a black forehead and black wings with white bars
- Females and winter birds olive-brown to dull yellow with bold wing bars
- Short, conical pink-orange bill; notched tail
Voice
Long, twittering song; distinctive flight call "po-ta-to-chip" given in bouncing flight.
Diet and feeding
One of the strictest vegetarians among songbirds — almost entirely seeds.
American Goldfinchs by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Winter visitor | — |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Arizona | Winter visitor | — |
| Arkansas | Winter visitor | — |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | August–September |
| California | Year-round resident | June–September |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Florida | Winter visitor | — |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Louisiana | Winter visitor | — |
| Maine | Year-round resident | August–September |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Mississippi | Winter visitor | — |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Montana | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Nevada | Winter visitor | — |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | August–September |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | August–September |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | July–September |
| New Mexico | Winter visitor | — |
| New York | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Summer breeder | August–September |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | July–September |
| North Dakota | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Oklahoma | Winter visitor | — |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Prince Edward Island | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Quebec | Summer breeder | August–September |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | August–September |
| South Carolina | Winter visitor | — |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Texas | Winter visitor | — |
| Utah | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | August–September |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Washington | Year-round resident | July–September |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | July–September |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | August–September |
| Wyoming | Summer breeder | August–September |
Often confused with
Frequently asked
What do goldfinches eat?
One of the strictest vegetarians among songbirds — almost entirely seeds. At feeders: nyjer (thistle), hulled sunflower chips, black-oil sunflower.
How big is a American Goldfinch?
4.3–5.1 in long and 0.4–0.7 oz.
Do goldfinches use birdhouses?
No. Tight cup in shrubs or saplings, lined with thistle or cattail down; nests late, in July–September.
Sources
- American Goldfinch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Goldfinch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Goldfinch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.