Goldfinches are small, colorful songbirds that can be seen throughout much of North America. They are active year-round, but are most noticeable during certain times of the year.
Spring
In spring, goldfinches undergo a striking molt that results in brilliant yellow plumage accented with black wings and a black forehead. The males in particular become very colorful. This bright new feathering makes goldfinches much more visible as they visit backyard bird feeders and flit through gardens and parks.
Early spring is courtship and breeding season for goldfinches. The males perform acrobatic flight displays and sing exuberantly to attract mates. The birds may be seen fluttering over lawns and fields or perched high up swaying back and forth while vocalizing.
Goldfinches begin nesting later than many other birds, generally in late spring or even early summer. This timing coincides with the appearance of fluffy seeds from thistles, sunflowers, and other plants that goldfinches favor for feeding. The delayed breeding enables the birds to take advantage of this bountiful food source to feed their young.
Summer
Goldfinches remain busy throughout the summer nesting season. The female constructs an intricate woven nest out of plant fibers and spider webs, lays a clutch of 4-6 eggs, and incubates them for about two weeks. Both parents work together to feed the hatchlings a diet consisting almost entirely of regurgitated seeds. With repeated broodings, goldfinch nesting activity can continue well into late summer.
The bright yellow males and more muted brownish females can be observed making frequent trips to deliver food to nests hidden away in shrubs, small trees, or vines. The non-breeding birds may congregate in small flocks that travel about eating seeds from gardens, fields, and roadsides.
Goldfinches molt into a duller olive-yellow plumage after breeding season. However, both the males and females retain their distinctive black and white wing markings year-round. The shape of the bird—small bill, short notched tail, bouncy flight pattern—help identify goldfinches through their various seasonal appearances.
Fall and Winter
One of the best times to spot goldfinches is in fall and winter when large, lively flocks consisting mainly of juveniles congregate and travel about in search of food. These gregarious groups may contain 30 birds or more.
Goldfinches have an undulating flight pattern and often emit a pleasant monosyllabic call as they feed and flit about in their flocks. They can be attracted to backyards with nyger seed feeders or socks filled with thistle seed.
Goldfinch Facts | Description |
---|---|
Scientific name | Spinus tristis |
Size | 4.5-5.5 inches long |
Wingspan | 7.5-9.5 inches |
Plumage | Yellow and black markings. Male bright yellow in summer. Duller olive-yellow in winter. |
Habitat | Open country with thickets, weedy fields, backyards |
Food | Seeds from thistles, sunflowers, grasses, birch, alder |
Nesting | Late spring through summer |
Flocking | Large roaming flocks in fall and winter |
Goldfinches will also forage on the ground under bird feeders for fallen nyger, sunflower seeds, and other small seeds that make up the bulk of their diet. Unlike many other finches, they rarely visit platform feeders.
Best Ways to Attract Goldfinches
- Plant seed-bearing flowers like coneflowers, cosmos, zinnias, and black-eyed susans
- Leave mature flower heads standing through winter so birds can eat dried seeds
- Avoid trimming dead vegetation in fall and winter
- Let some thistles bloom
- Leave brushy areas undisturbed
- Offer nyger or thistle socks and feeders
- Provide black oil sunflower seeds in ground feeders or hanging socks
- Use yellow or gold colored feeders if possible
Year-Round Activity
Goldfinches are present across much of North America year-round. They may be more reclusive in winter when food sources are less abundant. However, these popular songbirds can be enticed to backyard feeders or found foraging in fields throughout the year.
Knowing when goldfinches molt into their bright yellow breeding plumage, when they nest, and when they form large flocks can help birders know when to look for them. But at any time of year, listening for the cheery call of the goldfinch may reveal a flash of yellow in a treetop or flock passing overhead.
Conclusion
Goldfinches undergo seasonal changes in visibility and behavior that make them more noticeable at certain times. Spring brings brilliant yellow males vying for mates. Summer finds goldfinches busy nesting and feeding their young. Fall and winter are prime times to observe them in sizable flocks wandering open areas in search of seeds.
But goldfinches can be observed throughout the year in many parts of North America by providing the right food sources such as nyger seed and leaving some vegetation uncut for winter seed availability. Knowing when to expect goldfinches in their showiest spring plumage versus dull winter feathers can help bird enthusiasts spot these charming songbirds through the seasons.