American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 4.25 inches

• small, seed-eating bird

• Short, conical bill

• Short, forked tail

Male alternate:

• Plumage held in spring and summer

• Black forehead

• Yellow head, back, breast and belly

• Black wings and tail

• White wing bars and tertial edges

• White rump and undertail coverts

• Pale bill and legs

Female alternate:

• Greenish upperparts

• Yellow underparts

• Pale bill and legs

Basic:

• Plumage held in fall and winter

• Yellow face

• Brownish-olive upperparts

• Whitish underparts

• Blackish wings with pale wing bars

Similar species: The male American goldfinch in alternate plumage is
quite distinctive. Female lesser goldfinch is similar to female and im-

mature American goldfinch but is greener above and has a white patch

in the wing.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Successional-scrub
Nest Location: Mid-story/canopy nesting
Nest Type: Open-cup
Clutch Size: 4-6
Length of Incubation: 10-12 days
Days to Fledge: 11-17
Number of Broods: Occasionally 2
Diet: Primarily seeds; lesser quantities of insects

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February U

 

 

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