Goldfinch WESTERN BIRDS 



Except in the nesting season these Goldfinches are 

 gregarious, spending most of the year in large, rollicking 

 bands roving about the country and keeping up their 

 cheerful per-chic-o-ree, canary-like, call as they bound 

 through the air in their undulating flight. This flight, 

 together with the white-marked wings and tail, will serve 

 to identify them even though they are some distance 

 away. 



They are essentially seed-eaters, as their heavy bills 

 denote, being especially fond of thistle seeds, dandelions, 

 milk weed, sunflower, and other garden seeds. During 

 the nesting season, which is usually later than that of 

 most birds, they also eat, and feed their young, a good 

 many insects, plant lice being favorites. Forbush records 

 that 2,210 eggs of white birch aphids were found in the 

 stomach of one of these birds. Never have I known 

 them to do harm, although they are friendly birds that 

 come freely into the gardens, unmindful of mankind. 



The nests are works of art, being small, compact cups 

 which are placed in an upright crotch and made of fine 

 fibers and plant down, sometimes lined with horsehair. 



The female does all the brooding, but the male is most 

 solicitous and feeds her on the nest. She has a pretty 

 way of quivering her wings and begging in plaintive 

 tones to be fed. 



The young are fed by regurgitation by both parents, 

 sometimes, however, the male feeds the female and she, 

 in turn, feeds the nestlings beneath her. 



Besides the per-chid-o-ree call and several single 

 canary-like notes, these birds have a ringing, enthusias- 

 tic song which is sung with great gusto during the court- 

 ing days, the little performer taking short flights while 

 he sings like mad, the notes bubbling forth in great 

 rapidity, to the great enjoyment of the human observer, 

 and no doubt, the great awe of the little female for 

 whom it was intended. 



160 



