American goldfinch

Male American goldfinch in bright yellow breeding plumage perched on a rock, with a black cap and black-and-white wings

This is a favourite frame of a male American goldfinch, perched on the rocks in summer light.

Bright as a dandelion, the American goldfinch is one of the last songbirds to nest, waiting for thistle and other seeds to ripen before raising its young. In summer the males turn a brilliant lemon yellow with a black cap, a bright flash against green leaves and seed heads. Goldfinches are late nesters, waiting until midsummer when thistle and other seeds are plentiful.

Breeding males are brilliant yellow with a black cap and black wings marked with white bars, while females and winter birds are a softer olive-yellow. Goldfinches feed mostly on seeds, and are regular visitors to feeders stocked with nyjer or sunflower seed. They are often seen in small flocks, and their rolling, bouncing flight is easy to recognize. Their bouncy, undulating flight and cheerful flight call make them easy to notice, and in winter they swap yellow for a soft, olive-brown plumage.

To learn more about the American goldfinch and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

  • Male American goldfinch in bright yellow breeding plumage perched on pebbles
  • American goldfinch, yellow with black wings, perched on a curved metal hook
  • Small American goldfinch perched on a stem against a soft green background
  • Male American goldfinch with black cap perched on a reddish rock
  • American goldfinch among crabapple blossoms
  • American goldfinch perched among green leaves
  • American goldfinches perched on dry stems above the snow
  • American goldfinches and other small finches among dry stems in the snow

American goldfinch Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the american goldfinch in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the american goldfinch nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the american goldfinch in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Plains and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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