Quick Answer
The female American goldfinch has dull yellow-olive colored plumage. The wings are dusky brown with yellow edging. The tail is black with white markings. The undertail coverts are white. The bill is short and conical and pinkish in color.
The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small North American bird in the finch family. The coloring and appearance differs between males and females. The bright yellow males are unmistakable during breeding season. Females have a much duller olive-yellow plumage that provides camouflage as they incubate eggs and care for young. This article will focus on describing the plumage characteristics of female American goldfinches.
Plumage Coloring
The plumage of the female American goldfinch is dull yellow-olive overall. This provides good camouflage as they nest and provides contrast from the bright yellow breeding males.
Specific plumage characteristics of females include:
Head
The head of the female is a dull olive-yellow color with a paler supercilium (eye stripe). The stripe runs from above the eye backwards past the ear coverts. The lores are grayish. The auriculars (cheek patches) are dusky olive blending into the yellow throat.
Upperparts
The mantle, back, rump, and upper tail coverts are all a dull greenish-yellow olive color. This provides camouflage against vegetation as the female incubates eggs in the nest. The upper wing coverts are also a dull olive-yellow with brown edging.
Wings
The wings are dusky brown overall with yellow edging on most feathers. The greater coverts have wide yellow edges. The secondaries have yellow notches. The primaries are dark brown with light yellow edging at the base of the feathers. The yellow edging provides some contrast from the darker wings.
Tail
The tail is mostly black with white markings. The central pair of rectrices (tail feathers) are black with white spots at the tip. The next pairs have increasing white markings starting at the tip and moving up the inner web. This contrasting pattern helps distinguish the female American goldfinch in flight.
Underparts
The underparts of the female are dull yellow-olive. The chin and throat are pale yellow transitioning into olive-yellow on the breast and belly. The undertail coverts are white.
Bill
The bill of the female American goldfinch is short and conical in shape. It is pinkish in color on the upper mandible and pinkish-yellow on the lower mandible.
Legs and feet
The legs and feet are flesh-colored in the female American goldfinch. The legs are short and thin, typical of small songbirds.
Plumage Variations
The plumage coloring described above is for an adult female American goldfinch during the spring and summer breeding season. There are some variations in appearance:
Immature Birds
Young birds under one year of age appear similar to adult females but are even duller in color. The olive-yellow is muted and the wing bars are indistinct. The plumage is often scruffy in appearance.
Winter Plumage
In winter, the plumage of females is less colorful. The yellow-olive appearance fades to a pale brownish-yellow. The wings become browner as well. This drab plumage makes them harder to spot during the winter months.
Regional Variations
There are subtle regional differences across the American goldfinch’s range. Western birds are brighter while southeastern birds are paler yellow-olive. However, in general the female appearance remains quite similar.
Comparison to Males
The plumage of the female American goldfinch differs markedly from the bright yellow breeding males.
Some key differences:
Color
Males in breeding plumage are bright lemon yellow on the head, back, breast and belly. Females are a much duller yellow-olive color for camouflage.
Wings
Males have solid black wings with bright white markings. Females have brownish wings with pale yellow edging.
Tail
The long forked tail of the male is black with white markings. The female’s tail is shorter with less white.
Bill Color
The male’s bill is pinkish-orange at the base fading to pale yellow at the tip. The female’s bill is more uniformly pinkish.
So while the male American goldfinch is extremely bright, the female is much more dull and camouflaged. This aids in nesting while the male’s coloring displays fitness.
Conclusion
In summary, the adult female American goldfinch has the following plumage characteristics:
– Dull yellow-olive overall coloration
– Pale yellow head with olive-yellow back, wings, belly, and undertail coverts
– Dusky brown wings with yellow edging
– Black tail with white markings
– Pinkish conical bill
This subdued coloration provides camouflage for the breeding female as she incubates eggs and cares for young. It contrasts sharply with the brilliant lemon-yellow breeding plumage of the male. While variable across seasons and regions, the dull yellow-olive appearance of the female American goldfinch remains distinct from the bright golden males.
Plumage Area | Female Color | Male Color |
---|---|---|
Head | Dull yellow-olive with pale supercilium | Bright lemon yellow |
Back | Greenish-yellow olive | Lemon yellow |
Wings | Dusky brown with yellow edging | Black with bright white markings |
Tail | Black with white markings | Black with extensive white markings |
Breast | Olive-yellow | Bright yellow |
Belly | Olive-yellow | Bright yellow |
Bill | Pinkish | Pinkish-orange at base, pale yellow tip |
Interesting Facts about Female American Goldfinches
Here are some additional interesting facts about female American goldfinches:
Nest Building
– The female builds the nest without help from the male. She constructs it from plant fibers and lines it with thistle down.
Egg Laying
– The female lays a clutch of 3-6 pale bluish-white eggs and incubates them for 12-14 days.
Parenting Roles
– The female alone incubates the eggs. Both parents feed the young.
Molting
– Females molt later than males, from August to October. Their bright plumage is useful for breeding only.
Winter Flocks
– Winter flocks often contain more females than males since their dull plumage helps them blend in.
Species Name
– The species name “tristis” refers to the dull “sorrowful” coloration of the female.
Subspecies
– There are three subspecies divided by region: Eastern, Western, and Southwestern Goldfinches.
Diet
– Females primarily eat seeds but also insects when feeding young. Favorite seeds include thistle, sunflower, and nyjer.
Conclusion
The olive-yellow colored female American goldfinch provides a stark contrast to the vivid lemon-yellow male. Her subdued plumage enables her to camouflage during nesting season as she raises young. The differences in appearance and behavior between the sexes allow them to take on specialized roles in breeding. The dull yellow-olive female goldfinch combines with the flashy male to make this species one of North America’s most colorful and interesting songbirds.