Washington goldfinch facts

They migrate by day in flocks, and many of Washington's breeders leave the state in winter. Wintering flocks often wander about nomadically in search of food. Throughout their range, American Goldfinches are widespread and common. The Cascades divide the two subspecies found in Washington. In western Washington, they were formerly rare, but with European settlement and the cutting of the western Washington forests that created weedy second-growth and suburban habitat, they have become common.

Numbers recorded on Christmas Bird Counts vary from year to year, but appear to reflect an upward trend in winter populations in the Northwest. American Goldfinches are common from mid-April to mid-October in appropriate habitat throughout Washington's lowlands. They are generally present in these same areas in winter, but are much less common.

They are more common in winter east of the Cascades than west, especially along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. In winter, they are less common along the outer coast than elsewhere in Washington.

They breed below feet on the outer coast, below 1, feet in the Puget Trough, and below 2, feet along major river valleys in northeastern Washington. Click here to visit this species' account and breeding-season distribution map in Sound to Sage , Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties.

If you find the information on BirdWeb useful, please consider supporting Seattle Audubon. Support Seattle Audubon. American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis. Order: Passeriformes Members of this diverse group make up more than half of the bird species worldwide. Most are small. Young Both parents feed nestlings. Diet Mostly seeds, some insects. Nesting Nesting begins late in season in many areas, with most nesting activity during July and August.

Climate threats facing the American Goldfinch Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. More News. Explore Similar Birds. The Bird Guide Adopt a Bird. Evening Grosbeak Latin: Coccothraustes vespertinus. Lawrence's Goldfinch Latin: Spinus lawrencei. Lesser Goldfinch Latin: Spinus psaltria. Pine Siskin Latin: Spinus pinus.

Western Tanager Latin: Piranga ludoviciana. Yellow Warbler Latin: Setophaga petechia. These birds need your help. Get Audubon in Your Inbox Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news.

Email address. Find Audubon Near You Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program. Their names are similar, but European and American Goldfinches are not closely related. Along with being classified in separate genera, the coloring is different making it easy to tell the two finch species apart. The American Goldfinch is a small and fascinating bird that is a welcome sight at many backyard feeders across North America.

Whether you love the birds for their bright yellow feathers or unique flight call, there is something special about the Goldfinch. Jesse enjoys bird watching and feeding birds in his backyard, learning about the different species, and sharing his knowledge and experiences. Goldfinches are Strict Vegetarians While some other bird species are omnivores, Goldfinches are avid vegetarians. Male American Goldfinch Image:birdfeederhub.

Goldfinch Nests Hold Water Goldfinches weave their nests tight enough to hold water, though only temporarily. There are More Male Goldfinches than Females Male Goldfinches outnumber females by an estimated ratio of three to two. Flock of Goldfinches enjoying my Nyjer feeder during the winter.

Goldfinches Have Insulation When Goldfinches go through their second molting in late summer, they grow an undercoat of soft feathers. Goldfinches Will Burrow in the Snow Even though Goldfinches prefer to be higher up in the trees, during the winter the birds will make burrows underneath the snow.

Goldfinches Build Small Nests The tightly woven Goldfinch nests are small, typically only about 3-inches in diameter and 2 — 4.

Attract Goldfinches with Nyjer and Sunflower Seeds You can attract Goldfinches to your backyard feeders with sunflower seeds and Nyjer thistle. Kingdom : Animalia - animals Phylum : Chordata - chordates Subphylum : Vertebrata - vertebrates Class : Aves - birds Order : Passeriformes - perching birds Family : Fringillidae - buntings, finches, grosbeaks, old world finches, sparrows Genus : Carduelis Brisson, - goldfinches Species : Carduelis tristis Linnaeus, - american goldfinch, Jilguero canario.

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