American Goldfinches
It is always a thrill to see a bright yellow Goldfinch streak through the air or land somewhere to feed. This time of year, the males are bright yellow and they are often busy foraging for their families. They are smaller than the more familiar House Sparrows. In London, their flocks are smaller too.
Q: What happens to them in the winter?
A: As long as there is enough food, they can stay all year in southern Ontario. The males’ winter plumage is much duller. In the spring, breeding plumage will return, but later than with most other bird species.
Q: Where are the females?
A: They are incubating the eggs they laid in August. Then some of them leave their first set of young in the care of the male while they seek out another partner and try for a second set. This may explain a male feeding two young birds in my photo from September 2019. The young were already full-sized, but still dependent on an adult for food.
Q: How are the females different?
A: They have black in the same places on their wings and tails, but no black on the top of the the head. And the bright yellow is toned down as shown in this photo from August 2021.
Q: How do females know a male will be a good choice?
A: An orange bill is the sign of a good diet. This means he is good at foraging for the right foods and is a good provider.
Q: Where can I see them?
A: In the winter, they will hang around bird feeders. They are in London parks in some of the trees near paths all year. Once you hear them, simply wait until you see them moving around. For more photos and some samples of their sounds visit:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch
At the entrance to The Coves off Springbank Drive, just east of Horton Street, Goldfinches perch in the trees on the left and cross the path to the wildflower garden to forage. Whenever people pass by, they scatter noisily, but soon return.
For more information, see this excellent video by Lesley the Bird Nerd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89zcYdv-mA
