Title: Goldfinch

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Title Goldfinch

• Name Denise Vodola
• Date March 9, 2007
• Teacher Mrs. Morgan

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Bird Name/Phylum

• Name Goldfinch
•   Classification Phylum Chordata  Class
  Aves  Order Passeriformes  Family
  Fringillidae  Genus Carduelis

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Description of Bird

• Size 11-13 cm (4-5 in)
• Wingspan 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
• Weight 11-20 g (0.39-0.71 ounces)
• Small bird.
• Bill small, pointed, conical, and pink.
• Body bright yellow to dull brown.
• Wings dark with large white wing bars.
• Tail short and notched.
• Breeding male bright yellow with black cap and
  wings.
• Eyes black.
• Under tail white.
• Flies with bouncing flight.
• Calls frequently in flight.
• Usually found in small flocks.

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Habitat

• The American goldfinch lives in weedy fields and
  floodplains as well as cultivated land, orchards
  and gardens.
• The goldfinch's winter and breeding range
  includes southern Canada, most of the continental
  United States and parts of Mexico. The goldfinch
  can be found year round on the upper east coast,
  on the west coast and in the mid-section of the
  United States. Northern populations winter in the
  southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

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Range Map                                       
       
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Food

• The goldfinch's diet is made up mostly of the
  seeds of grasses, weeds and other plants. It also
  eats the seeds of trees like birch, alder and
  elm. It feeds during the day. The goldfinch
  usually gets seeds that are still on the plant.
  Its long legs and claws help it easily perch on
  plants.
• Their favorite seed is thistle.
• They also eat berries and insects.
• Young are fed regurgitated seeds.

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Adaptations

• What special adaptation does your bird have?
• The American Goldfinch has adapted to be
  compatible with its dietary needs. Their beak is
  shaped in a way that it is very good for holding
  on to seeds and using their weight to pull them
  down. The males color and the way they fly
  attract the females. When they fly it looks like
  they are dancing.
• Song a long series of twittering and warbling
  notes. Common contact call a "tsee-tsi-tsi-tsit,"
  often given in flight. May be described as
  "per-chic-o-ree" or "po-ta-to-chip."

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Interesting Facts

• The American Goldfinch changes from winter
  plumage to breeding plumage by a complete molt of
  its body feathers. It is the only member of its
  family to have this second molt in the spring
  all the other species have just one molt each
  year in the fall.
• The American Goldfinch is one of the latest
  nesting birds. It usually does not start until
  late June or early July, when most other
  songbirds are finishing with breeding. The late
  timing may be related to the availability of
  suitable nesting materials and seeds for feeding
  young.
• The American Goldfinch is gregarious throughout
  the year. In winter it is found almost
  exclusively in flocks. In the breeding season it
  feeds in small groups. Whether it maintains
  breeding territories is debatable.
• The American Goldfinch is mostly monogamous, but
  a number of females switch mates after producing
  a first brood. The first male takes care of the
  fledglings while the female goes off to start
  another brood with a different male.

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Pictures