American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch is a year-round resident. Common throughout the county, except in the most densely forested areas in the extreme northwest. Likes open, brushy areas and lightly wooded edge environments, but common in suburbia as well, becoming more numerous in winter. Often visits feeders. Often seen in small groups. May associate with Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) in the winter, sometimes forming mixed flocks. Winter flocks break up as mating pairs begin to seek nest sites in the spring. Mainly a seed eater. Especially fond of thistle seed and teasel.

Males are readily identified in breeding plumage by a black cap and bright yellow back and underparts with contrasting black wings with white wing bars. Pinkish bill and legs. White at the vent. Black tail. In winter plumage (above), males lose the black cap and the yellow areas take on a warm putty color. American Goldfinches seem to be perpetually molting, however, and blotchy birds in intermediate stages are common in the spring and fall. Females are duller than males, lack the black cap in all plumages and have a brownish rather than bright yellow back in breeding plumage. Has a characteristic, deeply undulating flight habit.

Older books assign Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch (Carduelis Lawrencei), and Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) all to the genus Carduelis. Looking at the some of the field guides I own, the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America (4th ed., 2010), assigns Lawrence's Goldfinch to Carduelis, the other three birds to Spinus. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (6th ed., 2011), assigns all four species to Spinus. However, Stokes (2010) and the American Museum of Natural History guide (2011) both have all four birds still in Carduelis despite being fairly recent publications.