American Goldfinch

Description:

This is a male American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis). It is also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and is a member of the finch family. The American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months, while the female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.

Habitat:

The American Goldfinch prefers open country where weeds thrive, such as fields, meadows, flood plains, as well as roadsides, orchards, and gardens. It may also be found in open deciduous and riparian woodlands and areas of secondary growth. This one was observed at a feeder at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson (Aiken County), SC.

Notes:

The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird, and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. This species is generally monogamous, and produces one brood each year.