The American Goldfinch State Birds (week 4)

Goldfinches in the G.W. Mead Wildlife Area 

The little American Goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington, is common at feeders, where it takes primarily sunflower and nyjer seeds. The have been called wild Canaries because of the males bright lemon yellow feathers. Female Goldfinches colors range from a drab yellow to an olive green/brown color, during the winter the males and the females look the same. The Goldfinch is a small bird between 4 and 5 inches long with a wingspan of up to almost 8 1/2 inches; about the size of a "skinny" chickadee.


Gold finches love seeds and get them from grasses and feeders; so if you do not have a feeder, put one out and they will show up. Goldfinches stay all winter here in central Wisconsin, so now is a great time to put out that feeder. Goldfinches can be found in open weedy fields, roadsides and backyard flower beds and feeders, especially during winter when the natural food sources are harder to find.




For more Goldfinch info check out http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/id


To hear the Goldfinch check this out  http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=23