Birds of Virginia Field Guide (Bird Identification Guides) - Tapa blanda

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Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 175 field guides, nature books, children’s books, wildlife audio CDs, puzzles and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 25 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

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American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis

Size: 5" (13 cm)

Male: A perky yellow bird with a black patch on forehead. Black tail with conspicuous white rump. Black wings with white wing bars. No marking on the chest. Dramatic change in color during winter, similar to female.

Female: dull olive yellow without a black forehead, with brown wings and white rump

Juvenile: same as female

Nest: cup; female builds; 1 brood per year

Eggs: 4-6; pale blue without markings

Incubation: 10-12 days; female incubates

Fledging: 11-17 days; female and male feed young

Migration: partial migrator, flocks of up to 20 birds move around North America

Food: seeds, insects, will come to seed feeders

Compare: Pine Siskin (pg. 81) has streaked chest and yellow wing bars. The female House Finch (pg. 83) has a heavily streaked white chest. Male Yellow Warbler (pg. 295) is all yellow with orange streaks on chest. Male Wilson’s Warbler (pg. 287) lacks black wings.

Stan’s Notes: Most often found in open fields, scrubby areas and in woodlands. Often called Wild Canary. A feeder bird that enjoys Nyjer seed. Late summer nesting, uses the silky down from wild thistle for nest. Appears roller-coaster-like in flight. Listen for it to twitter during flight. Almost always in small flocks. Moves only far enough south to find food.