American goldfinch

American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) [male]
Photo provided by SteveByland/pond5.com

FEATURES
The American goldfinch, also known as the wild canary, is about five inches in length (tail tip to bill tip in preserved specimen). From April through mid-September, the male has bright yellow body feathers with black wing and tail feathers and a black head patch. A white rump patch and two, white wing bars are also present. The female in summer has olive-yellow body feathers with black wing feathers and two, white wing bars. In winter, both sexes are similar to the female’s summer coloration but with a more gray tint. A short, cone-shaped bill is present on this small bird.

BEHAVIORS
The American goldfinch is a common migrant, summer resident and winter resident throughout Illinois. It may be found in forests, forest edges, fields, shrubby areas, pastures and suburban areas. Migrating birds begin arriving in the state in mid-April. Nesting occurs from June through August in weedy, shrubby areas, usually in small trees. The nest is made of plant fibers and is lined with thistle down. A nest may last for several seasons. The female deposits five or six, pale-blue eggs, which she incubates for the entire 12- to 14-day incubation period. The male brings food to her while she sits on the nest. Fall migrants start their return in September. The goldfinch feeds on seeds, particularly those of the dandelion, sunflower, thistle, birch and sweet gum. It will also capture insects, particularly to feed to the young birds. This bird has an undulating flight and may make call notes at each dip as it flies along. Its song is somewhat like that of the canary.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae