Birds Identified: American Goldfinch

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American Goldfinch has these characteristics:

• Hopping or climbing
  
• Still perching
  
• Smaller than robin
  
• Tail forked
  
• Bill thick, as thick or thicker at base than length of bill
  
• Mostly dull green or brownish green
  
• Yellow or orange
  
• Underparts plain
  
• Bold markings present (patches or blotches of black, white, or color)
  
• Crown patch
  
• Wing bands or bars
  
• North summer (June through August)
  
• North winter (November through February)
  
• South summer (June through August)
  
• South winter (November through February)
  
• Wood habitat
  
• Field habitat
  
• Marsh habitat
  
• Perched high (generally above middle of trees when perched or foraging)
  
• Perched low (generally below middle of trees when perched or foraging)
  
• On ground (walking, wading, running, hopping, or resting on ground)
  
• Bounding flight
  
• Occurs in flocks (from 4 or 5 to thousands)
  
• Staccato and twitter call (short sharp notes or rapid series of notes: tinkling, trilling, sputtering, or percussive)
  
• Melodious song (pitch variable; smooth, sweet, or rich quality; pattern generally complex)
  

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