The little yellow and black bird being referred to is likely the goldfinch. The goldfinch is a small songbird in the finch family that is recognized by its bright yellow body plumage and black wings and tail. Goldfinches are widespread across North America and are a familiar backyard bird at bird feeders. In this article, we will take a closer look at the goldfinch, its identifying features, habitat, diet, and behavior.
Identifying Features of the Goldfinch
The goldfinch has several distinctive features that make it easy to identify. Here are the key identification markers:
– Bright lemon-yellow body plumage – The body feathers are a bright, saturated yellow. This contrasts sharply with the black on the wings and tail.
– Black wings with white wing bars – The flight feathers of the wings are black. Within the black you can see white wing bars or stripes when the wings are open.
– Black tail with white spots – The tail is all black except for small white spots on the inner corners of the tail feathers. When the tail is closed, these white spots are visible as a white patch.
– Short conical bill – The bill is small and cone-shaped, ideal for cracking open small seeds.
– Black cap and throat – The crown of the head and the throat are black, separating the yellow underparts from the white face.
– White undertail coverts – The feathers under the tail are white. This white area contrasts with the black tail.
– Small size – Goldfinches measure 4.7-5.5 inches in length and have a wingspan of 7.5-8.7 inches.
Male vs. Female Goldfinch
The male and female goldfinch have similar plumage colors but can be differentiated by appearance:
– Males have brighter, more saturated yellow coloring on the body. Females are a duller yellow.
– Males have a black forehead that extends all the way down the bill. Females have a grayish forehead and bill.
– Females have a buffy wash to the throat area. Males have a clean black throat.
– Male goldfinches get their full bright yellow plumage in spring when the breeding season begins. Females maintain the same plumage year-round.
Juvenile Goldfinch
Juvenile goldfinches have dull olive-brown plumage over most of the body. The wings remain black but without the bright white wing bars. The tail is black with the distinctive white patch still visible. Juvenile birds molt into adult plumage within a few months.
Goldfinch Range and Habitat
Goldfinches are found across North America in a variety of open habitats including:
– Weedy fields
– Meadows
– Roadsides
– Orchards
– Backyards
They prefer areas with thickets of shrubs or small trees. These provide cover as well as seeds and insects to eat. Goldfinches are predominantly found east of the Rockies but can be spotted across southern Canada down to Mexico.
Goldfinches do tolerate cold weather but migrate within North America to stay within favorable ranges. Many goldfinches that breed in Canada and the northern U.S. migrate south for winter.
Backyard Habitat
Goldfinches are regular visitors to backyards that provide bird feeders stocked with nyjer seed or sunflower seeds. They also eat from naturally growing plants like thistle, coneflower, and cosmos. Having shrubs and small trees helps provide cover for goldfinches while visiting your yard.
Goldfinch Diet
Goldfinches are primarily granivorous, feeding on small hard seeds. Some key foods include:
| Food Source | Parts Eaten |
|---|---|
| Nyjer/thistle | Seeds |
| Sunflower | Seeds |
| Millet | Seeds |
| Grass and weed seeds | Seeds |
| Tree buds | Catkins |
| Dandelion | Seeds, flowers |
| Crabapples | Fruit |
| Insects | Adults, larvae |
During winter they primarily move between scattered food sources like grass and weed seeds. In spring and summer they incorporate more tree flowers, buds, and insects into their diet. Goldfinches use their conical bill to crack open seeds and eat them whole.
Feeding Behavior
Goldfinches feed in flocks, foraging together on seed heads or at feeders. They can often be seen feeding acrobatically, hanging upside down or contorting to reach seeds. When feeding on plants like thistle, they cling to the stem and work methodically up it to get the seeds from each flower.
Goldfinch Flight and Song
Goldfinches have a unique, wavering flight pattern. They flap in short bursts then dip and rise again repeatedly. This flight style is often described as a “roller coaster” or “undulating”. It allows them to stay aloft and cover distances without expending much energy.
The song of the goldfinch is a lively series of musical warbles and twitters. Their long, varied songs are quite complex compared to many other birds. Goldfinches sing throughout the year, but the breeding season brings longer, more elaborate songs.
Call
Goldfinches make call notes that are simple, monosyllabic chips. These chip calls are made in flight or when interacting in flocks. They may signal warnings, maintain contact, or show excitement.
Goldfinch Reproduction and Nesting
Goldfinches breed later than most North American songbirds. While many birds are nesting in spring, goldfinches wait until late summer to nest. This timing coincides with the most abundant seed crops that are used to feed their young.
Nests are open cup-shaped structures built 3-10 feet off the ground in shrubs or small trees. The female weaves the nest using grass, bark strips, spider silk, and plant down lined with softer thistle or cattail down.
| Nesting Facts |
|---|
| Clutch Size: 4-6 eggs |
| Egg Color: Pale blue |
| Incubation: 11-14 days |
| Nestling Period: 11-17 days |
| Broods per Year: 1-2 |
The female incubates the eggs and broods the altricial hatchlings. Both parents feed the young a diet of regurgitated seeds. Goldfinches form breeding pairs but may have different mates from season to season.
Courtship
In spring, breeding pairs of goldfinches engage in a courtship display. The male flies in wide circular arcs with quickly fluttering wings while singing exuberantly. If the female is impressed, she may join in his flight. This helps form pair bonds.
Goldfinch Migration
Goldfinches undergo short-distance migrations based on food availability. Winter movements are somewhat nomadic as flocks wander irregularly to find patches of food.
In spring, northern goldfinches migrate north to breeding grounds in Canada. In fall, most of these birds migrate back south to winter in the U.S. Southern populations may only migrate locally.
Some key migration facts include:
| Migration Pattern | Distance | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | A few hundred miles north | March – May |
| Fall | From Canada south into U.S. | September – November |
Large flocks of goldfinches migrate by day, stopping to forage at favorable sites along the way. Sudden cold snaps further spur fall migration southward.
Winter Range
During winter, goldfinches from the far north join more southern relatives and intermix across a wide region of North America. Large wintering flocks wander in search of food.
Goldfinch Behavior
Goldfinches exhibit some interesting behaviors:
Gregarious Flocking
Goldfinches form large flocks outside of breeding season, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. These gregarious gatherings forage together and communicate with contact calls to maintain group cohesion. The benefits include protection from predators and finding food patches.
Bathing
Goldfinches are frequent bathers. They avail themselves of bird baths or splash in puddles. Bathing helps maintain feather condition and remove parasites.
Anting
Anting involves rubbing ants on the feathers. The formic acid secreted by the ants acts as an insecticide, helping keep the feathers free of lice and mites. This behavior demonstrates how goldfinches use natural tools in their environment.
Feather Molt
Goldfinches molt somewhat later than many birds, shedding all body feathers after the breeding season. This ensures they maintain flight capacity during the demanding period of offspring rearing.
Goldfinch Conservation Status
The goldfinch has a large range and population size and is not considered threatened. However, numbers have declined somewhat in recent decades due to habitat loss and suburbanization reducing suitable farmland and grassland habitat. Promoting regrowth of native plants that provide food and nesting sites helps support goldfinch populations. Leaving standing dead vegetation through winter also provides important food sources.
Conclusion
The goldfinch is a beloved songbird across much of North America, recognizable by its bright golden plumage. It frequents backyards and readily visits feeders. Goldfinches breed later than many birds and engage in regional migrations based on food availability. Protecting habitat helps ensure healthy goldfinch populations. The active, social goldfinch provides easily observable nature enjoyment for many. If you see a lively yellow and black songbird, it’s likely the goldfinch!
