American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
Least Concern
The American Goldfinch is like a little flying lemon! Males in summer are brilliant yellow with a black cap and wings. In winter, they turn a dull olive color - it's the same bird, just dressed differently!
Goldfinches are vegetarians - they eat almost nothing but seeds. They're one of the few birds that feed their babies an all-seed diet.
Size
About the size of a ping pong ball
Tiny (<15 cm)
Wingspan: 22 cm
Weight: 15 g
Colors
yellow
black
white
Habitat
grasslandurban
Diet
seeds
Fun Facts
- ✨They're strict vegetarians - one of the only seed-only birds!
- ✨Males change from dull olive in winter to bright yellow in summer.
- ✨They breed later than most birds, waiting for thistle seeds.
- ✨They're the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington.
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great news! This bird is doing well. There are lots of them in the wild, and they have safe places to live and find food.
Population trend: decreasing 📉