Wilderness Portraits Archive by Lloyd Paul Aiello

American Goldfinch in Cattails

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small migratory North American bird found 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. It is a small finch, 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) long, with a wingspan of 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in). It weighs between 11–20 g (0.39–0.71 oz). The song of the American goldfinch is a series of musical warbles and twitters, often with a long note. The American goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration with the male being a vibrant yellow in the summer as shown here, and an olive color during the winter. The female is a dull yellow-brown, brightening only slightly during the summer.

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Filename: _LPA8246-Edit.tif
Image Size: 2196x3292 / 35.2MB; www.WildernessPortraits.com; Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Massachusetts Sudbury alert animal behavior animals birds brown cattail color colorful descriptors documentation finch format goldfinch green marsh places plants portrait season state-city-location summer swamp things type vertical view yellow
Contained in galleries: Wildlife Portraits

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small migratory North American bird found 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. It is a small finch, 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in) long, with a wingspan of 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in). It weighs between 11–20 g (0.39–0.71 oz). The song of the American goldfinch is a series of musical warbles and twitters, often with a long note. The American goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration with the male being a vibrant yellow in the summer as shown here, and an olive color during the winter. The female is a dull yellow-brown, brightening only slightly during the summer.