The American Goldfinch

by Jeff Goulden

Male American Goldfinch

The official state bird of Washington, Iowa and New Jersey is the American Goldfinch.  This very colorful bird is fairly common throughout the Pacific Northwest but mostly in rural areas.  It likes to frequent weedy open fields and farms.  Deciduous trees provide excellent cover.  The goldfinch is migratory, spending winters in the southern U.S.A. and Mexico.  In the Pacific Northwest, the goldfinch is mostly seen from May to November.  The American Goldfinch is a yellow bird but depending on sex, season and age they may vary greatly in shade and intensity of color.  The breeding male goldfinch is a bright canary yellow with distinct black markings.  ​

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Female American Goldfinch

The female is a dull yellow with some olive color mixed in.  The juveniles are a yellowish brown with buff wing markings.  All the variances sometimes make the goldfinch difficult to identify.

The goldfinch is a gregarious bird, gathering in small flocks and competing aggressively at bird feeders.  Their favorite food is thistle seed although they will eat other small seeds or nuts.

More pictures of this brightly colored bird can be seen in my American Goldfinch Gallery at Istockphoto.com.  Other bird species can be seen in my Joy of Birds Gallery.  Signed fine art prints from many of my photographs are available for purchase on Fine Art America.  ​For special offers and to follow my photographic journey please Join My Email List​.​

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