American Goldfinch Habits

When I saw my first American Goldfinch looking for seeds on the gravel drive some 45 years ago, I thought someone's pet bird had gotten loose. Diving a little deeper, I learned what I'm sharing here.

These canary looking birds are around all year in their range. Let's talk about their their feeding, breeding, and nesting habits and get some tips on what you can do to attract more of them to your backyard.

Male: Size, Field Marks, Plumage Summer-Winter

Males are about 5 inches long from the tip of their bill to the end of their tail.

The winter plumage of the male is a yellowish brown, with light yellow on the face and chin, and the wings are black with white bars.

In summer, the male has a bright yellow body, and a black cap, with the tail and wings black with white bands.

Female Appearance and Seasonal Changes

Females are not as brightly colored as the males. They are the same size as males and it's easy to tell the difference between the two.

Females are yellowish green with black wings and tails during summer, changing to a grayish brown with very little yellow and dark brown wings with white wing bars in winter.

By keeping your feeder well stocked into spring, you'll see the bright yellow of the male and the more vibrant colors of the female, as they enter the breeding stage.

Call: Sounds and Behavior

The Goldfinches' song consists of a combination of short, clear notes and longer, trilling phrases. The males are known for their singing, especially during the nesting and breeding season.

Mating and Courtship: How They Choose Mates

Long before the nesting season, the courtship habits begin. Usually, several males try to attract the same female.

While there are short flutter flights high in the air between males, the most common behavior includes males chasing after females.

Several male birds may chase the female for twenty minutes or more over a large area, with the female likely to pick the dominant male for breeding.

Breeding Season: When They Lay Eggs

The goldfinches breeding and egg laying season doesn't occur until late June into July for most. Sometimes nesting can go into August.

In the meantime, these birds will remain relatively quiet in and around their habitat.

Nesting: Quick Facts

Nesting Begins Earlier for Western Range

The breeding and nesting season begins earlier in the western part of the their range, egg laying activities can begin as early as May or June.

In the eastern part of their range, Goldfinches begin nesting and laying eggs in late July - August.

Why Do They Nest So Late?

It's believed that the blooming cycle of thistle plants plays a crucial role in dictating when these finches decide to nest.

The fluffy seed heads from thistles serve as essential nesting materials. Then, as late summer approaches, these plants set seed which is eaten by the adults and regurgitated to the young back at the nest.

Nest Construction: A Female's Craft

The female builds a small nest just 2 inches wide inside and under 3 inches deep outside. The male guards her and their territory during this time.

Using strands of weeds, vines, and rootlets for the foundation, and spider webbing to secure it to branches, she weaves a watertight cup.

The interior is lined with soft downy-like thistle blooms and caterpillar webbing, which protects the future eggs and chicks.

These nests sit 4 to 20 feet above ground in shrubs or small trees.

Laying Eggs and Incubation

After building the nest, both birds may temporarily leave before returning days later for egg-laying.

The female lays 3 to 7 light blue eggs over two weeks post-nest completion.

She incubates them for 12-14 days, while the male feeds her so she can remain on guard nearly full-time.

Nesting Habitat

The preferred habitat for nesting is an open area with a few scattered shrubs and trees.

They are likely to be found on farms and in backyard gardens. Most nests I find are in wetland areas and placed near the top of shrubs.

The young birds will fledge about 11 to 15 days after hatching.

A second nest may be built by the female while the male continues to feed the first broods of fledglings.

Between 7 and 15 percent of females will attempt a second brood.

The young may be attended to by both adults for up to three weeks after leaving the nest.

Do They Reuse Nest?

Although rare, a nest may be used for a second brood in the same breeding season. Other birds may use the nest if it is not being used.

They do not use the same nest from year to year. However, they may return to the same territory, providing they had a successful nest.

Feeding Habits and Diet

Feeding in the Wild

In the wild, goldfinches feed on Compositae plants also known as the Asteraceae family, which is one of the largest plant families.

Common Compositae Plants

Winter Diet at the Feeder

It's important to feed all birds in winter as that's when they're most vulnerable.

It's a time that puts stress on the birds and allows for diseases to overtake them. Here are some options:

Types of Preferred Seeds

• Black-oil Sunflowers Seed (Hulled or in Shell) Stay away from the stripped or Gray types as the birds find them less desirable.


• Nyjer Seed (Also Called Thistle Seed) Not from the thistle plant, but imported and sterilized, which doesn't affect the nutritional value, but will keep it from sprouting.

If offering nyjer/thistle seed, you'll need a specially designed thistle feeder due to the small size of seed. The openings of sunflower seed feeder are too large.

Do They Migrate South in Winter?

While it is considered a partial migrator, for most of the lower 48, they are permanent residents and do not go south in winter.

During the breeding season, they expand their territory as far as mid-Alberta. Those that breed in the northern regions will migrate southward during the winter.

In winter, goldfinches form flocks and exhibit less aggression toward one another. Males look more like the females during winter.

To assist all species of birds, I like to provide a Heated Birdbath in Winter.

How Long Do They Live: Lifespan

The lifespan of the American Goldfinch in the wild averages 3 - 6 years. Maximum Recorded - 11 years.

Video of this bird eating wild thistle

Citations: Second Brood and Percentages

Alex L. A. Middleton. "Influence of Age and Habitat on Reproduction by the American Goldfinch." Ecology 60, no. 2 (1979): 418-32. https://doi.org/10.2307/1937669.

Middleton, A. L. A. (1988). Polyandry in the mating system of the American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis. Canadian Journal of Zoology 66:296-299.

Stokes, A. W. (1950). Breeding behavior of the goldfinch. Wilson Bulletin 62:107-127.

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