Spinus tristis

(Linnaeus, 1758)

American Goldfinch

G5Secure Found in 178 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105854
Element CodeABPBY06110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyFringillidae
GenusSpinus
Synonyms
Carduelis tristis(Linnaeus, 1758)
Other Common Names
Chardonneret jaune (FR) Jilguero Canario (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Formerly (AOU 1983, 1998) listed in Carduelis. Acanthis and Spinus were considered separate genera prior to their merger into Carduelis (AOU 1983), in part following Mayr and Short (1970), although they continued to be listed as subgenera. Recent mitochondrial genetic data (Arnaiz-Villena et al. 2008) indicate that Carduelis is polyphyletic and that Acanthis spp., Spinus spp., Carduelis carduelis, and Chloris sinica belong to different clades.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-04
Edition Date2010-01-29
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
Breeding range extends from southern Canada (southern British Columbia east to southwestern Newfoundland) south to southwestern California and northern Baja California, Arizona, New Mexico, extreme northeastern Texas, northern Louisiana, northern Mississippi, central Alabama, central Georgia, and South Carolina (AOU 1998). Winter range extends from southern Canada and the northern United States south to northern Baja California, northern Sonora, New Mexico, Texas, the U.S. Gulf coast, and southern Florida (AOU 1998). See Prescott and Middleton (1990) for information on age and sex differences in winter distribution in eastern North America.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Breeding adult male is bright yellow, with black wings, a bold white wing-bar, and a black forehead. Breeding adult female has yellow-brown plumage with dark wings and light wing-bars. Nonbreeding male resembles adult female but has yellow patches on the head and throat and yellow lesser wing coverts. Nonbreeding female has a brownish back, grayish underparts, and buffy wing bars. Both sexes have white undertail coverts. Length: 13 cm, wingspan 23 cm.

Habitat

American goldfinches are associated with weedy fields, cultivated lands, open deciduous and riparian woodland, forest edge, second growth, shrubbery, orchards, and farmlands (AOU 1998). Nests usually are in small trees or bushes, 0.3-10 meters above ground, sometimes in thistles near the ground ( Terres 1980). See Watt and Dimberio (1990) for information on the structure of successful nests.

Ecology

Except during the breeding season, usually travels and forages in flocks.

Reproduction

Nesting occurs relatively late for a songbird. In most areas, egg laying occurs primarily in late June, July, and August, sometimes in May or into September, with a peak in June and July, but some populations in California and Baja California nest from April to early July. Clutch size is 4-6 (usually 5). Incubation lasts 12-14 days. Young leave the nest about 11-17 days after hatching. Young depend on one or both parents for food for about 3 weeks after fledging.

Brown-headed cowbirds are brood parasites that sometimes lay eggs in American goldfinch nests. However, the cowbird young rarely survive. Probably this is because goldfinches feed mostly seeds to their nestlings, and this diet is inadequate for cowbird development.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
KentuckyS5B,S5NYes
MississippiS5BYes
TexasS2B,S5NYes
ConnecticutS5BYes
ColoradoS5Yes
New HampshireS5Yes
MaineS5B,S5NYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
FloridaSNRNYes
Rhode IslandS5BYes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
MarylandS5Yes
IndianaS4Yes
District of ColumbiaS4N,S5BYes
NebraskaS5Yes
IdahoS5Yes
VermontS5B,S5NYes
West VirginiaS5B,S5NYes
TennesseeS5Yes
South DakotaS5B,S4NYes
OregonS4Yes
New YorkS5Yes
NevadaS3B,S4NYes
AlabamaS5Yes
ArkansasS4Yes
IowaS5B,S5NYes
Navajo NationS1B,S4NYes
UtahS4Yes
New JerseyS4B,S4NYes
WisconsinS5BYes
VirginiaS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
DelawareS5Yes
North DakotaSNRBYes
GeorgiaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MichiganS5Yes
LouisianaS5NYes
MontanaS5BYes
OhioS5Yes
MissouriSNRYes
North CarolinaS5B,S5NYes
PennsylvaniaS4BYes
MassachusettsS5Yes
IllinoisS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
New MexicoS2B,S5NYes
KansasS5Yes
WashingtonS5B,S5NYes
ArizonaS1B,S5NYes
CanadaN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS5Yes
QuebecS5BYes
AlbertaS5B,SUNYes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
British ColumbiaS4Yes
ManitobaS5BYes
SaskatchewanS5BYes
New BrunswickS5Yes
LabradorS1Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
Roadless Areas (178)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Arkansas (4)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
California (11)
AreaForestAcres
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
ChicoSequoia National Forest39,836
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest9,997
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
WoolstaffSequoia National Forest41,445
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Georgia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Wilson CoveChattahoochee National Forest545
Idaho (7)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
NeedlesPayette National Forest131,279
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Montana (12)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
Reservation DivideLolo National Forest16,908
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Silver KingLolo National Forest12,816
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
New Hampshire (9)
AreaForestAcres
Carr MountainWhite Mountain National Forest17,110
Cherry MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,766
Dartmouth RangeWhite Mountain National Forest9,233
JobildunkWhite Mountain National Forest3,660
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
Wild RiverWhite Mountain National Forest46,878
New Mexico (8)
AreaForestAcres
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
San Pedro ParksSanta Fe National Forest5,824
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
North Carolina (10)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
North Dakota (5)
AreaForestAcres
DurlerDakota Prairie Grasslands12,464
MagpieDakota Prairie Grasslands21,281
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
VenloDakota Prairie Grasslands5,317
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
Oregon (9)
AreaForestAcres
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Lake ForkWallowa-Whitman National Forest21,936
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Texas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Little Lake CreekNational Forests in Texas596
Utah (23)
AreaForestAcres
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418014Uinta National Forest9,683
418015Uinta National Forest17,289
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
HogsbackWasatch-Cache National Forest7,936
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Vermont (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bread LoafGreen Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,768
Griffith Lake 09084Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests1,833
Woodford 09086Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests2,456
Virginia (24)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beartown Addition AJefferson National Forest1,370
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Garden MountainJefferson National Forest3,960
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Hunting Camp Little Wolf CreekJefferson National Forest8,953
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Little Wilson Creek Addition BJefferson National Forest1,725
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Saint Marys AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,454
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
Shawvers Run AdditionJefferson National Forest1,927
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
Washington (5)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonOkanogan National Forest9,681
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
West Virginia (10)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Wyoming (20)
AreaForestAcres
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Piney CreekBighorn National Forest22,240
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Sheep MountainMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest17,626
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Wapiti Valley NorthShoshone National Forest18,345
Wapiti Valley SouthShoshone National Forest43,517
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
References (23)
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  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). Chesser, R.T., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2009. Fiftieth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 126(3):705-714.
  4. Arnaiz-Villena, A., J. Moscoso, V. Ruiz-del-Valle, J. Gonzalez, R. Reguera, A. Ferri, M. Wink, and J.I. Serrano-Vela. 2008. Mitochondrial DNA phylogenetic definition of a group of "arid-zone" Carduelini finches. Open Ornithology Journal 1:1-7.
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  17. Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. 511 pp.
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  19. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  20. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  21. Watt, D. J., and A. M. Dimberio. 1990. Structure of successful nests of the American goldfinch (CARDUELIS TRISTIS). J. Field Ornithol. 61:413-418.
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