Bird’s ID – American Goldfinch | H.J. Ruiz

Bird’s ID – American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canada–United States border to Mexico during the winter.

The American goldfinch undergoes a molt in the spring and autumn. It is the only cardueline finch to undergo a molt twice a year. During the winter molt it sheds all its feathers; in the spring, it sheds all but the wing and tail feathers, which are dark brown in the female and black in the male. The markings on these feathers remain through each molt, with bars on the wings and white under and at the edges of the short, notched tail. The sexual dimorphism displayed in plumage coloration is especially pronounced after the spring molt, when the bright color of the male’s summer plumage is needed to attract a mate.

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Tags: American Goldfinch, Bird's ID, birding, birds, nature, photography, photos of birds

29 thoughts on “Bird’s ID – American Goldfinch”

shoreacres on August 15, 2018 at 7:56 am said:

Great photos, especially the third. I like the ‘poofiness’ of its feathers. I think your butterfly might be a clouded sulphur.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:01 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Linda! You’ll know the answer in a couple of days (On right side column)
  
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Eily Nash on August 15, 2018 at 8:09 am said:

What vibrant colour. Little beautis H.J beautifully shot as always x

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:02 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Eily! 🙂
  
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Washe Koda on August 15, 2018 at 8:28 am said:

Nice photos : I gotta plant ‘sun flowers’ again. They always came around for those in NE Tennessee 🌻

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:06 pm said:
  
  That’s a good idea! Thanks WC! 🙂
  
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Indira on August 15, 2018 at 8:46 am said:

Lovely yellow birds and butterfly!

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:09 pm said:
  
  Thank you Indira! 🙂
  
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Jet Eliot on August 15, 2018 at 8:55 am said:

American goldfinches are such a bright and happy joy to come upon. Great photos, HJ, nice to get both genders in the one shot, and the male in the pine needles photo is exquisite.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much my friend, I like the goldfinches and I always wonder if being so bright and visual will make them more vulnerable to predators. There must be a good reason for that. What do you think? 🙂
  
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susanpoozan on August 15, 2018 at 9:13 am said:

Loved your photographs of such a pretty bird, no help with the insect though.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:22 pm said:
  
  Thank you dear Susan! You are exonerated from the butterfly, I don’t know if you have that species in UK. 🙂
  
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spanishwoods on August 15, 2018 at 9:36 am said:

So beautiful. Great post.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:23 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much S.! 🙂
  
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David P. on August 15, 2018 at 11:34 am said:

I’m in partial agreement with shoreacres. My guess is Cloudless Sulphur as I don’t see the clouded markings.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 2:25 pm said:
  
  Thanks David! 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on August 15, 2018 at 6:32 pm said:

Excellent shots.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 7:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Tom! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on August 15, 2018 at 7:21 pm said:

Informative post with great photos HJ

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 7:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks Ashley, I appreciate it! 🙂
  
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kkessler833 on August 15, 2018 at 9:53 pm said:

Beautiful! I like the first one the best.

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 9:55 pm said:
  
  Thank you Kendall!:)
  
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  - kkessler833 on August 15, 2018 at 9:58 pm said:
    
    Welcome!
tanjabrittonwriter on August 15, 2018 at 10:28 pm said:

Their bright colors and joyful noise never fail to cheer me up, H.J. So did your photos. 🙂

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H.J. for avian101 on August 15, 2018 at 10:31 pm said:

Thank you so much Tanja! 🙂

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bayphotosbydonna on August 16, 2018 at 1:28 pm said:

Great captures of a beautiful bird, I love seeing their flash of yellow in flight! 🙂

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- H.J. for avian101 on August 16, 2018 at 2:22 pm said:
  
  They are beautiful birds, very attractive to our eyes. Thanks Donna! 🙂
  
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svtakeiteasy on August 18, 2018 at 6:20 am said:

Beautiful yellows. They really stand out and are quite cheerful. Sorry I haven’t visited for a while HJ. We have been Island hopping without internet coverage!

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H.J. for avian101 on August 18, 2018 at 1:59 pm said:

Thank you Chris, don’t worry about it, you can catch at any time. 😉

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