zpostcode
American goldfinch
Dec 15, 2025 2:04 AM

  

American goldfinch1

  American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) These songbirds are native to North America, and males are known for their distinctive, bright yellow plumage that contrasts with their black tail, cap, and wings. (more) American goldfinch bird Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/American-goldfinch Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Carduelis tristis, Spinus tristis, wild canary Written by Fred Frommer Fred Frommer is a sports historian, author, and writer who has written for a host of national publications. Fred Frommer, John P. Rafferty John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to... John P. Rafferty•All Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Dec 9, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Also called: wild canary (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Where can American goldfinches be found? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "American goldfinches have a vast geographic range. They can be found throughout the contiguous United States and southern Canada, along Mexicou2019s Gulf coast, in The Bahamas, and on other Caribbean islands. They are adaptable birds that nest in trees and shrubs in open fields, floodplains, cultivated areas, urban and suburban areas, orchards, and along roadsides." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What do American goldfinches eat? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "American goldfinches are granivorous, consuming seeds from woody plants, weeds, grasses, and flowers. They also eat berries, buds, bark, sap, and insects. Some birds have been observed eating pine cones. Their strong bill allows them to split seeds, and they are adept at using their legs to maneuver up and down plants while feeding." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How do American goldfinches reproduce? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "They are serially monogamous, with pairs staying together for the breeding season. Some females, however, mate with more than one male. After fertilization, females lay two to seven eggs. Females incubate the eggs while males supply food. The eggs hatch after 15 days. Chicks learn to fly about 14 days after hatching, and some disperse from the nest at this time." } } ] } Top Questions Where can American goldfinches be found? American goldfinches have a vast geographic range. They can be found throughout the contiguous United States and southern Canada, along Mexico’s Gulf coast, in The Bahamas, and on other Caribbean islands. They are adaptable birds that nest in trees and shrubs in open fields, floodplains, cultivated areas, urban and suburban areas, orchards, and along roadsides.

  What do American goldfinches eat? American goldfinches are granivorous, consuming seeds from woody plants, weeds, grasses, and flowers. They also eat berries, buds, bark, sap, and insects. Some birds have been observed eating pine cones. Their strong bill allows them to split seeds, and they are adept at using their legs to maneuver up and down plants while feeding.

  How do American goldfinches reproduce? They are serially monogamous, with pairs staying together for the breeding season. Some females, however, mate with more than one male. After fertilization, females lay two to seven eggs. Females incubate the eggs while males supply food. The eggs hatch after 15 days. Chicks learn to fly about 14 days after hatching, and some disperse from the nest at this time.

  American goldfinch, (Spinus tristis), small acrobatic songbird native to North America. Males are known for their distinctive, bright yellow plumage that contrasts with their black tail, cap, and wings. They are also known for their call, a vocalization that sounds like “po-ta-to-chip” or “perchicoree-perchicoree.” Owing to the presence of a mournful note in their song, the species name is tristis, which is the Latin word for “sad.” Most classifications place American goldfinches in the family Fringillidae, along with grosbeaks and canaries. The species has long been popular among birders and wildlife enthusiasts, and in the United States it is the ...(100 of 1062 words)

  Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
Operation Blue Star
  Also spelled: Operation Bluestar (Show more) Also called: Teeja Ghallughara (Punjabi: “Third Massacre”) (Show more) Operation Blue Star, Indian military operation in June 1984 ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to root out a group of militant Sikh separatists who had occupied the Golden Temple, the Sikhs’ holiest shrine. The leader of the group was Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh...
Maya Le Tissier
  Born: April 18, 2002, Guernsey, Channel Islands (Show more) Maya Le Tissier (born April 18, 2002, Guernsey, Channel Islands) English football (soccer) player in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and member of the England women’s national team. From 2022, Le Tissier has played for WSL team Manchester United. Le Tissier began playing football at a young age. Her father coached...
Battle of Nineveh
  Generations of bitter warfare characterize the history of the ancient Near East, and especially that of ancient Mesopotamia. In a concerted campaign to end Assyrian dominance Babylonia led an alliance in an attack in 612 bce against the Assyrian capital, Nineveh, the ruins of which are now surrounded by modern-day Mosul, Iraq. The city, whose heyday had come earlier in...
Novo Nordisk
  Novo Nordisk A/S is an international pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing corporation established in 1989 through the merger of competing Danish companies Nordisk Insulaboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium. It specializes primarily in four areas of pharmacological research: Novo Nordisk is headquartered in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, and employs about 55,000 workers worldwide. Its revenues in 2023 were 232 billion Danish kroner ($34.4...
Information Recommendation
Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871
  One of the largest mass lynchings in U.S. history occurred in the original Chinese Quarter of Los Angeles on October 24, 1871, and left at least 18 Chinese immigrants dead at the hands of a largely white and Latino mob. Although it was one of the most severe incidents of racist violence in U.S. history and the largest massacre of...
Nollywood
  Also called: Nigerian cinema (Show more) Nollywood, the Nigerian filmmaking industry and the second largest global film industry in terms of output, after that of India (see Bollywood). The term Nollywood, a portmanteau of “Nigeria” and “Hollywood,” can encompass Nigerian films made outside Nigeria as well as English-language Ghanaian films. It also includes films in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other...
Trying to choose a franchise? 9 tips to consider
     You’ve thought long and hard about the pros and cons of buying a business franchise, and you’ve decided that it’s what you want to do. You figure you have the time, business savvy, and you’re pretty sure you have the capital (and courage!) to get started. So, what’s next?   Not only are there numerous brands to consider, from local...
Asiatic lion
  Also called: Indian lion or Persian lion (Show more) Asiatic lion, (subspecies Panthera leo leo), population of lions whose geographic range once extended from Turkey to India. In the present day, however, wild Asiatic lions are limited to India’s Gir Protected Area, which is within a dry deciduous forest and includes the Gir National Park, and a handful of smaller...
history of Myanmar
  history of Myanmar, a survey of important events and people in the history of Myanmar. Located in the western portion of mainland Southeast Asia, Myanmar is bordered by China to the north and northeast, Laos to the east, Thailand to the southeast, the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal to the south and southwest, Bangladesh to the west, and India...
cosplay
  cosplay, the act or practice of dressing up as a character from a preexisting work of fiction. The term is derived from a Japanese portmanteau—kosupure—drawn from the words kosuchuumu (“costume”) and pure (“play”). Cosplay has become commonplace among fans of stories and characters depicted in various forms of mass media, including anime, comic books, video games, television, and film. Most...
Max Verstappen
  In full: Max Emilian Verstappen (Show more) Born: September 30, 1997, Hasselt, Belgium (age 26) (Show more) Max Verstappen (born September 30, 1997, Hasselt, Belgium) is a race-car driver competing in Formula One (F1) under the Dutch flag. He is the sport’s youngest race winner, and he is also the youngest person to start an F1 race. Driving for Red...
Silver Surfer
     Silver SurferPromotional image from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).(more)Silver Surfer, fictional superhero.   Fictional superhero of comic book fame, introduced in 1966 by the famed Marvel Comics team of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee as an enemy of the Fantastic Four, but soon remade into an ally and champion of humankind.      Britannica Quiz Pop Culture Quiz...