JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2015 • NEBRASKAland 13
American Goldfinch
Song or calls: Song is prolonged jumble of short trills
and thin twitters. "Per-chic-oree" flight notes.
Description: Breeding adult male is bright yellow
overall with a black cap, black wings and black tail; white
wing bars, with upper bar being the widest; and yellow
shoulder patch. It has a white rump and undertail coverts.
Female is duller overall; olive above; lacks black cap and
yellow shoulder patch with white undertail coverts. Winter
adults are even duller; either brownish or grayish above;
male may show some black on forehead; and white wing
bars are more prominent. Immatures are similar to winter
adults but wing bars are buffier.
Behavior: Has erratic, "roller coaster" flight pattern.
Habitat: During the fall and winter birds are often
found foraging in fields of tall weeds. Breeding usually
occurs in rather open grassy areas, farmsteads, swamps
and other areas where thistles and cattails are abundant.
Where in Nebraska: Common permanent resident
across the state. Winter populations vary from year to year.
Fun Facts: Sometimes known as the "wild canary."
American goldfinches are the only bird in the finch family
that molts twice a year including the breeding season. ■
To learn about more birds visit
NebraskaBirdLibrary.org.
Nebraska Bird Library
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PHOTO
BY
JON
FARRAR
