Birds of Oklahoma Field Guide

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis Size: 5" (13 cm) Male: Canary-yellow finch with a black forehead and tail. Black wings with white wing bars. White rump. No markings on the chest. Winter male is similar to the female. Female: dull olive-yellow plumage with brown wings; lacks a black forehead Juvenile: same as female Nest: cup; female builds; 1 brood per year Eggs: 4–6; pale blue without markings Incubation: 10–12 days; female incubates Fledging: 11–17 days; female and male feed the young Migration: partial migrator to non-migrator; small flocks of up to 20 birds move around to find food Food: seeds, insects; comes to seed feeders Compare: The Pine Siskin (p. 103) has a streaked chest and belly and yellow wing bars. The female House Finch (p. 105) has a heavily streaked chest. The male Yellow Warbler (p. 333) is yellow with orange streaks on its chest. The male Wilson’s Warbler (p. 325) lacks black wings. Stan’s Notes: Common backyard resident. Most often found in open fields, scrubby areas, and woodlands. Enjoys Nyjer seed in feeders. Lines its nest with the silky down from wild thistle. Almost always in small flocks. Twitters while it flies. Flight is roller coaster-like. Often called Wild Canary due to the male’s canary-colored plumage. Male sings a pleasant, high-pitched song. Moves only far enough south to find food.