The most common yellow bird seen in Massachusetts is the American Goldfinch. The American Goldfinch is a small songbird with a wingspan of about 8 to 11 inches. The male American Goldfinch has bright yellow plumage on its body and black wings during the breeding season. The female American Goldfinch has duller brownish-yellow plumage. American Goldfinches are common year-round residents of Massachusetts and can be seen in weedy fields, gardens, and backyards.
What does the American Goldfinch look like?
The American Goldfinch is a small finch with a short, conical bill. In summer, the male has bright lemon-yellow plumage on its body, black forehead, black wings with white markings, and a short black tail. The female American Goldfinch is more subdued with olive-yellow plumage, brownish wings, and brown markings on the head. In winter, both male and female American Goldfinches molt to a duller olive-brown body plumage. However, they retain some yellow on their bellies. American Goldfinches undergo two molts per year – one before breeding season to acquire the bright yellow breeding plumage and one before winter to get more subdued nonbreeding plumage.
American Goldfinches range from 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length and have a wingspan of 7.5 to 8.7 inches. They typically weigh between 0.4 to 0.7 ounces. Males tend to be slightly larger than females. Juveniles resemble females but are darker brown overall until their first molt.
Key Identifying Features
- Small size with a short, conical bill
- Bright yellow body and black wings in breeding male
- Brownish-yellow body in female and winter male
- Distinctive short, bounding flight pattern with rapid wing beats
- Melodic, warbling song and call notes
Where do American Goldfinches live?
American Goldfinches are found throughout most of North America. Their breeding range extends across southern Canada and the central and eastern United States. American Goldfinches are found year-round in the northeastern United States. They are resident in Massachusetts but may wander short distances in winter to find food sources.
American Goldfinches inhabit open areas with thickets, weedy fields, meadows, flood plains, farms, orchards, parks, gardens, and backyards. They prefer areas with tall plants like trees, shrubs, and weeds which provide food, nesting sites, and shelter. American Goldfinches are adaptable to human settlements and disturbance as long as suitable food sources exist.
Typical Habitats
- Weedy fields
- Roadsides
- Floodplains
- Orchards
- Parks
- Suburban yards and gardens
What does the American Goldfinch eat?
American Goldfinches mainly eat seeds and grains from herbaceous plants like thistles, asters, sunflowers, and birch. They use their conical bills to extract seeds from seed heads of plants like nyjer, annual sunflowers, mullein, thistle, and goldenrod. They also sometimes feed on tree buds, sap, and insects.
Here are some of the main foods in the American Goldfinch’s diet:
- Seeds from thistles, asters, sunflowers, mullein, goldenrod
- Nyjer thistle seeds
- Annual sunflower seeds
- Birch seeds
- Buds from elms, maples, cottonwoods
- Sap from trees
- Some insects like beetles, caterpillars, aphids, ants
American Goldfinches feed mainly on the ground or while perched on plants. They will also visit bird feeders for nyjer, sunflower seeds, and suet. Having feeders stocked with nyjer and black oil sunflower seeds may help attract American Goldfinches to your yard.
Feeding Behavior
- Feeds on seeds from herbaceous plants like thistles, sunflowers, asters
- Eats buds, sap, and some insects
- Perches on plants and leans forward to pick seeds
- Visits feeders for nyjer, sunflower seeds, and suet
When and where do American Goldfinches nest?
American Goldfinches breed between April and September across most of North America. Courtship displays like aerial chases begin in spring. The nesting season peaks between May and July.
American Goldfinches nest later than many other songbirds since they rely on mature thistle plants and other herbaceous plants for food. Nests are open, cup-shaped and placed near the top of shrubs, saplings, or weeds. Favorite nesting sites include shrubs, small trees, orchards, roadsides, parks, and suburban yards.
Typical nest heights range from 1 to 10 feet off the ground. Nests are made of grass, plant fibers, stems, twigs, spider webs, lined with thistle or cattail down. The female builds the nest over a period of 6-8 days while the male guards.
Nesting Facts
- Open cup nests in shrubs, small trees, 1-10 ft off ground
- Made of plant fibers, stems, grass, lined with thistle down
- Female builds nest over 6-8 days
- Nesting season peaks May-July
- Preferred sites – shrubs, orchards, roadsides, parks, yards
How many eggs does the American Goldfinch lay?
A typical American Goldfinch clutch contains 4-6 eggs. The eggs are small, pale bluish-white with reddish-brown spots and blotches. The female incubates the eggs for 11-14 days before they hatch.
American Goldfinches are multi-brooded and may raise 2-3 broods per breeding season. Not all nesting attempts are successful though due to predation, weather events, or human disturbance. On average, a breeding pair may fledge 2-5 young per season.
American Goldfinch Egg Facts
- Clutch size: 4-6 eggs
- Egg color: Pale bluish-white with reddish-brown marks
- Egg size: 0.6 x 0.4 in (1.5 x 1.1 cm)
- Incubation period: 11-14 days
- Broods per season: 2-3
What do American Goldfinch chicks and fledglings look like?
American Goldfinch chicks hatch after an incubation period of 11-14 days. The altricial hatchlings are blind, mostly naked except for some sparse grey down, and completely helpless. The parents feed the chicks regurgitated seeds initially, then insects as they grow. The chicks fledge the nest at 10-17 days old.
Fledgling American Goldfinches resemble the female parent with olive-yellow plumage, short tails, and stubby wings. The short tail and growing wings give them a disproportionate appearance. Fledglings beg loudly for food as the parents continue caring for them. Young birds become independent within 30-45 days after leaving the nest.
Chick and Fledgling Facts
- Chicks hatch blind and naked after 11-14 days
- Fed regurgitated seeds and insects by parents
- Fledge nest at 10-17 days old
- Fledglings have olive-yellow plumage like female
- Parents care for fledglings up to 30-45 days
What are some interesting facts about American Goldfinches?
Here are some interesting facts about the biology and behavior of American Goldfinches:
- Male American Goldfinches develop their bright yellow breeding plumage through a spring molt.
- They molt again in late summer, replacing colorful feathers with dull olive-brown winter plumage.
- American Goldfinches are highly sociable, traveling in flocks outside of breeding season.
- They have a unique bounding flight pattern with deep wing beats alternated with short periods of wings tucked closed.
- Their cheerful, warbling songs are a familiar sound in summer.
- American Goldfinches are sometimes preyed upon by Sharp-shinned Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks.
- They may hybridize with the very similar Lesser Goldfinch in some parts of their range.
Fun Facts
- Males molt into bright yellow spring plumage
- Highly social, traveling in flocks
- Distinctive bounding flight pattern
- Melodic, warbling song
- Vulnerable to hawk predation
How can I attract American Goldfinches to my yard?
Here are some tips to help attract American Goldfinches to your yard:
- Plant native flowers, shrubs, and small trees that produce seeds they like such as thistle, sunflower, aster, and goldenrod.
- Avoid trimming plants late in season so they can produce seeds.
- Leave some dead trees and shrubs for nesting sites and shelter.
- Provide a water source like a birdbath or fountain.
- Supply nyjer seed or black-oil sunflower seed in feeders.
- Consider offering suet blocks as well for nourishment.
- Position feeders near trees or shrubs to make goldfinches feel safe.
By landscaping with American Goldfinch favorites and supplying appropriate feeders, you can create an attractive backyard habitat for them throughout the year.
Tips to Attract Goldfinches
- Plant native flowers, shrubs for seeds
- Leave dead trees for nesting
- Provide water source
- Offer nyjer or black oil sunflower seed
- Put up suet feeders
- Place feeders near trees or shrubs
Where can I observe American Goldfinches in Massachusetts?
Here are some good places to look for American Goldfinches in Massachusetts:
- Weedy fields – Watch for flocks feeding on seeds of thistle and other plants.
- Backyard feeders – Attract them with nyjer and sunflower seeds.
- Roadsides – Scan shrubs and small trees along roads for nests.
- Orchards – Search for pairs nesting in fruit trees.
- Parks and gardens – Listen for their musical calls and songs.
- Nature preserves – Try sites like Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary which have open meadows.
American Goldfinches are widespread and adapt readily to human environments. Get to know their cheery song and bounding flight pattern to help locate them.
American Goldfinch Viewing Locations
- Weedy fields
- Backyard feeders
- Roadsides
- Orchards
- Parks and gardens
- Nature preserves like Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary
Conclusion
The American Goldfinch is the most likely yellow bird you’ll see in Massachusetts. Watch for the bright yellow males in summer and listen for their distinctive song and call. American Goldfinches are easy to attract by landscaping with native plants and providing appropriate feeders. Get to know these cheery little finches and enjoy their presence in your neighborhood throughout the year.