eastern goldfinch
1. Bird Name
The bird species being profiled is the Eastern Goldfinch, also known by its scientific name, Spinus tristis.
2. Appearance
The Eastern Goldfinch boasts a striking coloration. Males are vibrantly decorated with a bright yellow body during the breeding season (approximately April through September), contrasted against a distinctive black cap and black wings adorned with white stripes. Their beak is conical and sharp, ideal for their diet of seeds. The females and off-season males, in comparison, are of a modest, faded yellow-brown hue throughout, save for their dark wings. Their eyes are always dark, irrespective of gender or season.
3. Size
Eastern Goldfinches are comparatively small birds. They average around 12-13 cm/ 4-5 inches in length. The wingspan ranges from 20-22 cm/ approximately 7.9-8.7 inches. They weigh around 11-20g, with males typically being heavier than females.
4. Habitat & Distribution
The Eastern Goldfinch – as implies the name – can be predominantly found in the eastern regions of North America, including areas ranging from southeastern Canada to North Carolina during breeding season. The species generally migrates to southern United States during winter. These birds have a preference for open habitats; fields, meadows, roadsides, orchards, and gardens.
5. Interesting Facts
Some noteworthy trivia about the Eastern Goldfinch includes; they are the state bird of Iowa, New Jersey, and Washington; Unlike most birds, Eastern Goldfinches are strict vegetarians – even feeding their young with a diet of regurgitated seeds; they generally breed later in summer to correspond with an ample supply of seeds.
6. Diet
These birds primarily feed on seeds from various plants such as thistles, dandelions, sunflowers, and ragweed. They also consume small quantities of insects on rare occasions.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Eastern Goldfinches have a distinctive flight pattern, where they alternately flap their wings and glide, producing a wave-like trajectory. Males perform an extravagant mate-chasing flight combined with a distinctive song described as per-chic-o-ree. Other calls include a tsee-tsi-tsi-tsit or poo-poo-pee-pee, often heard while the bird is in flight.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the Eastern Goldfinch is classified as a species of least concern, indicating it is abundant and widely distributed.
9. Lifespan
In the wild, the Eastern Goldfinch can live up to approximately 10 years. In captivity, the lifespan often extends a few more years, due to the lack of predators and consistent food supply.
10. Additional Notes
Native Americans had several uses for these birds, from a source of meat to using their bright feathers for decoration. They help to control the spread of weeds by consuming large quantities of weed seeds. They are also appreciated as a backyard bird due to their splendid coloration and enjoyable songs. Their recent movement into more urban areas has brought them into more contact with humans, often to the delight of birdwatchers.
