American Goldfinch Spinus tristis Size: 5" (13 cm) Male: Perky yellow bird with a black patch on the forehead. Black tail and a conspicuous white rump. Black wings with white wing bars. No marking on the breast. A dramatic change in color during winter, similar to female. Female: dull olive yellow with brown wings and white rump, lacks a black forehead Juvenile: same as female Nest: cup; female builds; 1 brood per year Eggs: 4-6; pale blue without markings Incubation: 10-12 days; female incubates Fledging: 11-17 days; female and male feed young Migration: partial migrator; small flocks of up to 20 birds move around North America Food: seeds, insects; will come to seed feeders Compare: The male Yellow Warbler (p. 325) is yellow with orange streaks on the chest. Pine Siskin (p.

103) has a streaked chest and belly and yellow wing bars. The female House Finch (p. 105) has a heavily streaked chest. Stan's Notes: A common backyard resident year-round, moving around to find adequate supplies of food during winter. Most often in open fields, scrubby areas, and woodlands. Enjoys Nyjer seed in feeders. Breeds in late summer, using the silky down from wild thistle for its nest. Appears roller-coaster-like in flight.

Listen for it to twitter during flight. Almost always in small flocks. Often called wild canary.