American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

Also known as:Eastern Goldfinch, Wild Canary

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

13 cm (5") Common and gregarious. Throughout North America. Weedy fields on dandelions and thistles, roadsides, suburban areas, feeders.

Known as the "Wild Canary".

Male: brilliant yellow with a black cap, wings and tail. White undertail and uppertail coverts.

Female or Winter Male: dull olive or brownish-gray above. Yellow or grayish-yellow below. White undertail coverts.

Undulating or roller-coaster flight.

Song: canary-like lively twitters, trills and "swee" notes; distinctive "per-chick-o-ree" flight call.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Larry Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

American Goldfinch - HD Mini-documentary

Credit: James Knott

American Goldfinch Singing Song

Credit: Lesley the Bird Nerd

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 4 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

American Goldfinch (Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:1051-american-goldfinch-male:1:1 Source: 1051 American Goldfinch (Male), row 1

Rule 2 5 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
How did the bird fly ?: Undulating (roller coaster-like or bounding)
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Only or mostly in flight over land

result:1051-american-goldfinch-male:2:1 Source: 1051 American Goldfinch (Male), row 2

American Goldfinch (Female or winter Male)

2 rules

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What Color were the UNDERTAIL COVERTS ?: White or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow, olive, or tan (light brown) · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:1052-american-goldfinch-female-or-winter-male:1:1 Source: 1052 American Goldfinch (Female or winter Male), row 1

Rule 2 5 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Female · Unknown
How did the bird fly ?: Undulating (roller coaster-like or bounding)
How BIG was the bird ?: Smaller than a sparrow · Sparrow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Identify from a Unique Behaviour
What type of environment was the bird seen in?: Urban or residential area or at a feeder · Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra · Only or mostly in flight over land

result:1052-american-goldfinch-female-or-winter-male:2:1 Source: 1052 American Goldfinch (Female or winter Male), row 2