American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Back After Absence

Male goldfinch in breeding plumage stops by for a drink.
Photo by Brad Sylvester. Copyright 2010. Do not copy.

In the winter of 2010-2011 and the spring and summer of 2011, we had a decided absence of American Goldfinches (Carduelis tristis or Spinus tristis) despite having had many of these colorful little birds in previous years. I am very happy to report that they are back this winter. They have been visiting our thistle feeder in good numbers for several months and appear healthy.

The goldfinch is one of the more brightly colored summer birds that visits our backyard feeders. They are also quite vocal and their twittering can be heard from the trees surrounding our yard as they prepare to swoop in on the feeder and take their turn.

American goldfinches swarming a thistle feeder in February.
Photo by Brad Sylvester. Copyright 2012. Do not copy.

As the regular author of a bird watching column for Examiner.com (Manchester Bird Watching Examiner) for the past several years, it seems like it's about time to start adding more of the birds that live in my yard to this blog. There are well over 200 species of birds that live at least part-time in New Hampshire. Even excluding seabirds and those with specialized habitats, I should be able to log a very large number of species in my yard. Birds should be second only to insects and possibly spiders for total species counts by my estimation, at least until we start considering microfauna.

Although American goldfinches may shift their range north or south with the seasons, they are always present as a species in New Hampshire and live in my yard year-round. They are active bird feeder visitors, preferring thistle seed to all other offerings. Although they pair up for the summer breeding season, in winter they tend to travel in small flocks travelling around from food source to food source.

• Read more about the American Goldfinch's change from winter drab to summer gold  

The American goldfinch is sometimes called the wild canary because of its bright yellow color and small size.

Lifespan: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology lists the oldest known American Goldfinch at 10.5 years (as of 2007). Average lifespan will be much lower, but I could not find reliably consistent figures.

Habitat: Overgrown fields and forest edge

Diet: Primarily seeds including thistle, sunflower, birch catkins, but will also eat insects during breeding season

When is it here? American goldfinches are found in New Hampshire all year round.

Where does it go in the winter? In the winter, American Goldfinches may move south to avoid severe cold, but the summer and winter ranges have considerable overlap according to National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition. In places like New Hampshire where there is significant snowfall, American goldfinches often "hang out" close to backyard bird feeders with thistle seed or black-oil sunflower seeds during the winter months.

Life-cycle: According to information published by the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, American goldfinches lay 4-6 eggs per clutch once or twice per season. The eggs are very pale blue, almost white, and take 10-12 days to hatch and the baby birds are ready to leave the nest within 11-17 days after hatching. Breeding typically takes place in July.

Notes: The American Goldfinch makes a small, cup-shaped nest in the forking branches of trees and shrubs. Nests are often made of thistle or milkweed silk and other plant material woven tightly. Nests are usually constructed between 10-20 feet off the ground, but may be higher or lower. The Cornell Ornithology Lab reports that brown-headed cowbirds will often lay their eggs in the nests of American goldfinches, but that cowbird chicks cannot survive on the diet of regurgitated seeds and die within days of hatching.

What eats American Goldfinches? Many animals eat small birds. One of the biggest predators is the house cat. Others include bobcats, foxes, martens, fishers, raccoons, hawks like the sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks, and many others.

IUCN Red List Status: Species of Least Concern, population trend: increasing

American Goldfinch Taxonomy:
The taxonomy of the American goldfinch is interesting because the genus was actually changed in the mid-1970's. Originally classified as belonging to the genus Spinus, it was reclassified into the genus Carduelis with Spinus becoming a sub-genus. It common to see the American Goldfinch listed either as Spinus tristis or Carduelis tristis.
Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves (Birds)
Order: Passeriformes (Perching birds)
Family: Fringillidae (True finches)
Genus: Carduelis (formerly Spinus)
Species: tristis