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Today on Animal Fact Files we’re talking about American goldfinches. Some of our subscribers might say this channel is... golden. Thank you to Kevin Hollender for today’s request. Technically, there are other goldfinch species, but we’re going to focus specifically on the American goldfinch with today’s episode. American goldfinches live in North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico depending on the season. During the winter months, American goldfinches are typically found in their southern range, while in the summer they are found more northerly, though not all individuals migrate! Some American goldfinches may stay in more northern areas where food can be found throughout the entire year. American goldfinches don’t rely heavily on the presence of insects as a food source, so the general reduction in insect numbers during the colder months doesn’t really affect these birds. American goldfinches almost exclusively eat seeds and have a specific fondness for the seeds of thistle plants. They can frequently be seen clinging to seed pods in order to reach the tasty morsels inside. American goldfinches have strong, sharp beaks that are designed to help them extract seeds from their casings.

Throughout most of the year, American goldfinches travel in small family groups, however, during the breeding season, they tend to remain in pairs. Because American goldfinches are so intrinsically linked to seed production, they have a later than average breeding season. While most songbirds begin breeding in the springtime, American goldfinches may not start breeding until late June or early July. This is because the American goldfinches are waiting for high yields of their favorite foods which ultimately means a better opportunity for their offspring to survive.

When the breeding season starts, the female American goldfinch builds a nest. These are typically constructed no more than 30 feet (9 meters) off the ground in trees and shrubs. The nest of an American goldfinch is supported with spider silk and so well constructed it can hold water. The female will lay anywhere from two to seven eggs and she will take care of incubation duties. During the two week incubation the male will bring her food. After the chicks hatch, the parents will slowly switch roles until the male is doing most of the child rearing. Usually American goldfinches have only one nest per season, but sometimes a female will leave a male to raise the kids on his own and find another male with which to mate and raise another clutch, though this isn’t typical. The chicks are ready to leave the nest approximately two weeks after hatching, but they’ll spend up to a month returning to the nest to ask for food from mom and dad. Afterwards, they’ll go on their own way, and will be ready to mate once they reach about eleven months of age.

American goldfinches prefer open areas with lots of overgrowth where seeds can be easily accessed. Weeds are especially a luxury. Open forests, edges of woods, roadsides and backyards may all be considered prime real estate to an American goldfinch. These birds are mostly diurnal and they’ll roost at night, sometimes with other bird species. Male American goldfinches are easy to spot during breeding season because they sport a bright yellow color. Females are more drab and become even duller during the winter. Outside of the breeding season, male American goldfinches will lose their bright color and end up looking more like females and juveniles.

Ameican goldfinches can live to be ten, but they are often taken by predators much earlier than this. Blue jays, kestrels, garter snakes, weasels, and feral and domestic cats all pose a threat to American goldfinches, but overall their population is stable. Plus they’re protected by migratory bird act.

For more facts on American goldfinches, check out the links in the description. Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today, and thank you for watching Animal Fact Files.