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American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

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Spinus tristis by Joan
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Order
Passeriformes
Family
Fringillidae
Genus
Spinus
Species
tristis
Regional

This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Birmingham, Alabama

Hayward, California

Klamath River, California

Modesto, California

Oildale, California

Solvang, California

Turlock, California

Broomfield, Colorado

Denver, Colorado

Lebanon, Connecticut

New Milford, Connecticut

Ellendale, Delaware

Alford, Florida

Bradenton, Florida

Brandon, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida

Melbourne, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida

Quincy, Florida

Riverview, Florida

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Buford, Georgia

Byron, Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia

Hazlehurst, Georgia

Snellville, Georgia

Montpelier, Idaho

Algonquin, Illinois

Anna, Illinois

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Cherry Valley, Illinois

Divernon, Illinois

Fairfield, Illinois

Grayslake, Illinois

Palatine, Illinois

Rock Falls, Illinois

Taylorville, Illinois

Westchester, Illinois

Coatesville, Indiana

Corunna, Indiana

Greenville, Indiana

Winona Lake, Indiana

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Dubuque, Iowa

Sioux City, Iowa

Yale, Iowa

Calvert City, Kentucky

Crestwood, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Melbourne, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hammond, Louisiana

Clinton, Maryland

Hughesville, Maryland

Linthicum Heights, Maryland

Parkville, Maryland

Silver Spring, Maryland

Halifax, Massachusetts

Dearborn, Michigan

Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Madison Heights, Michigan

Remus, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

Saint Clair Shores, Michigan

Traverse City, Michigan

Albertville, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota(2 reports)

Winona, Minnesota

Golden, Mississippi

Maben, Mississippi

Marietta, Mississippi

Tupelo, Mississippi

Bolivar, Missouri

Brunswick, Missouri

Cole Camp, Missouri

Conway, Missouri

Jackson, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Steelville, Missouri

Cut Bank, Montana

Bellevue, Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

Deerfield, New Hampshire

Merrimack, New Hampshire

Nashua, New Hampshire

Warner, New Hampshire

Beachwood, New Jersey

Butler, New Jersey

Marlton, New Jersey

Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Woodstown, New Jersey

Hamburg, New York

Himrod, New York

North Tonawanda, New York

Pittsford, New York

Williston Park, New York

Yonkers, New York(2 reports)

Bear Creek, North Carolina

Concord, North Carolina

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Oxford, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Winston Salem, North Carolina

Belfield, North Dakota

Medora, North Dakota

Belle Center, Ohio

Bucyrus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio(2 reports)

Corning, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Geneva, Ohio

Glenmont, Ohio

Guysville, Ohio

Haskins, Ohio

Hilliard, Ohio

Lebanon, Ohio

North Ridgeville, Ohio

Oak Harbor, Ohio

Sidney, Ohio

Spencer, Oklahoma

Bend, Oregon

Gold Hill, Oregon

Hollsopple, Pennsylvania

Meshoppen, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Saint Thomas, Pennsylvania

Whitehall, Pennsylvania

Clarksville, Tennessee

Elizabethton, Tennessee

Summertown, Tennessee

Baytown, Texas

Combes, Texas

Desoto, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Houston, Texas

Katy, Texas

Liberty Hill, Texas

Magnolia, Texas

Mc Kinney, Texas

New Braunfels, Texas

Spring, Texas

Universal City, Texas

Winnsboro, Texas

Springdale, Utah

Essex Junction, Vermont

Edinburg, Virginia

Hurt, Virginia

Martinsville, Virginia

Newport News, Virginia

Penhook, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Bow, Washington

Edison, Washington

Shelton, Washington

Skokomish, Washington

Tonasket, Washington

Walla Walla, Washington

Morgantown, West Virginia

Appleton, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lander, Wyoming

Powell, Wyoming

Sheridan, Wyoming

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Gardener's Notes:
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21 positives 1 neutral 0 negative
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n

nutsaboutnature

Algonquin, IL (Zone 5a) | July 2013 | Positive
I love these birds! We have them year around and they have the sweetest songs. Their favorite feeder foods are Nyger and Sunflower seed, but they'll scrounge for naturally growing seeds of all varieties.

When my Coneflowers are in bloom, I'll sometimes see as many as half-a-dozen pulling out the seeds. For that reason I leave assorted types of flower heads standing rather than deadhead them, giving the goldfinches (and some other birds) seeds for part of the Winter.

I also love to watch the Goldfinch females stuffing their beaks with the natural fiber nesting fluff I have hanging in suet cages.

In Autumn, they change to their pale Winter coloring allowing them to blend in better with the drab background.
C

Cville_Gardener

Clarksville, TN (Zone 7a) | January 2012 | Positive
I have these birds year around here and feed them in winter. They are such a delight!
S

Suzy_Bee

Spring, TX (Zone 9a) | December 2011 | Positive
These little birds make me so happy when they come to visit in November or December. I make sure they have plenty of nyger to eat!
h

hydey6

Corunna, IN | August 2011 | Positive
Another wonderful little bird to have around. They stay here year round and I enjoy watching their antics. I don't enjoy sharing, so I put two thistle feeders out for more room. They enjoy sunflower and coneflower seeds also. This week I see they are eating the rose buds...that's a new one on me. It's even better now that they have their babies coming to the feeders.
t

themikeman

Concord, NC (Zone 7a) | August 2010 | Positive
I love this bird!!!..; and he loves my echinacea and my sunflowers. As the blooms are declining on these, he sits and eats the seeds out of the centers of these blackening pink coneflower echinaceas and the sunflower's centers too..peace. mike.
b

bugqueen

Taylorville, IL | April 2010 | Positive
4 1/2 - 5" (11-14cm) Smaller than a sparrow. Breeding male shown. Females duller and grayer with black wings, tail, and white wing bars.
Nesting: Brushy thickets, weedy grasslands and nearby trees.
Range: SE British Columbia and Newfoundland south to Georgia, Oklahoma , Baja California and widespread in the NE, winters south to the Gulf Coast and southern Mexico.
Nests late so only a single brood is raised each season.
S

SageOne

Birmingham, AL (Zone 7b) | October 2009 | Positive
Goldfinches love to feed on the seeds of my Echinaceas. They cling to the stalks, and peck the seeds from the cone part of this Coneflower.
b

birder17

Jackson, MO (Zone 6b) | October 2009 | Positive
WE have lots of these birds year around. They are a pleasure to watch.
g

goatzrus

Davidsville, PA | September 2009 | Positive
watching them @ the feeder outside the kitchen window adds much sunshine......to a place that it's normal to see rain for long periods of time.
they bring joy year-round!
P

Phaltyme

Garden City, MI (Zone 6b) | September 2009 | Neutral
I have these birds year around. I love to hear them sing. I
have discovered something about them that surprised me,
they are NOT willing to share the feeder or any of the food.
They squabble noisily while attacking each other.
Kay
m

misseymarie

Butler, NJ | August 2009 | Positive
Here in Butler New Jersey, we are loaded with American Goldfinche's all winter until about the middle of April, they fly away for the summer and return in September. I just love watching these birds change from their winter colors to their spring colors.
j

jackstangle

La Conner, WA | July 2009 | Positive
Here on Samish Island WA there are lots of these guys in the summer. They are really pretty. They eat niger seeds here & thistle & dandelion seeds. So we allow weeds to grow on about a quarter acre for them. The deer also like weeds, so folks, don't kill ALL the nasty weeds, they are good for something.
f

femluc

Elizabethton, TN (Zone 6b) | June 2009 | Positive
These beautiful birds visit year round in East Tennessee. I keep the thistle sock filled for them and they know when it is empty, because they make themselves scarce until I fill it again. They are especially gorgeous in the winter with their bright colors against the white snowy background. They are very quiet birds that startle easily, but do not bother anything or other wildlife.
a

alchemy_1300

Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6a) | April 2009 | Positive
Oh my I did not know this was called an American Goldfinch I've seen this beautiful little bird in my backyard and I've called them the "steeler birds"
p

plantladylin

(Zone 1) | March 2009 | Positive
My book on Florida Birds tells me the American Goldfinch is found in this area from November through April but this is the first year I've ever seen them at the feeders in my yard. They seem to love Thistle seed and empty the bags quickly. I guess they are storing up energy for the long flight back north!
F

FlipFlops

Brunswick , GA (Zone 9a) | January 2009 | Positive
I love these sweet little birds. I have a sock hanging with thistle seed and see them everyday. Even though they do not have their summer plumage, they are just as pretty to me in the winter. Reminds me of the beauty that will be coming in the spring when the males change to their beautiful yellow and black color once again.
n

n8turegardener

Nashua, NH | January 2009 | Positive
Every spring I await the arrival of the goldfinches. I plant a row of sunflowers along the back fence which becomes a magnet for them by mid summer. Their dare-devil antics to get the seeds form the flower heads are a real treat to watch.
D

DMgardener

(Daniel) Mount Orab, OH (Zone 6b) | January 2009 | Positive
They used to enjoy thistle feeders, but now they seem to enjoy Cosmos seedheads much more! I often see them arranged in oppisite sex pairs or in large groups.
C

ClanCampbell

(Chris) Des Moines, IA (Zone 5a) | December 2008 | Positive
Talk about a ray of sunshine in your garden! We have them pretty well year round, although I haven't seen them as much this winter for some reason. They love the nyger and I always keep those feeders separated from the other feeders, so that the bigger birds don't bother them. Then I find the Goldfinch at a regular seed feeder.. go figure! :)
d

dellrose

The Ozarks, MO (Zone 5b) | December 2008 | Positive
I love these little birds that will eat you out of house and home if given the chance. I let many of my flowers go to seed now and the Goldfinch as well as other birds eat the seeds in the winter when their natural food is scarce.
r

rutholive

Tonasket, WA (Zone 5a) | December 2008 | Positive
I have Goldfinches yearround. There are about 35 or more here in my yard eating at the upside down feeder, on the deck under it and at a round globe type feeder. Such neat little birds. Donna
M

Mrs_Ed

Whiteside County, IL (Zone 5a) | December 2008 | Positive
Sweet birds here year-round. Enthusiastically munch on my sunflowers in August (planted just for them) and beyond. Will feed from a number of different feeders, preferring nyjer and sunflower.
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