458 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part i 



when disturbed prematurely, as by banding. Tlie smallest bird often 

 leaves the nest at a younger age than those hatched first. 



Plumages. — Dwight (1900) describes the juvenal plumage of the 

 young male as "above wood-brown, grayer on crown, yellowish on 

 forehead. Below, including sides of head prunrose-yellow brightest 

 on chin, washed on sides and flanks and across the throat with deep 

 buff. Wings and tail dull black whitish edged; secondaries, tertiaries, 

 and wing coverts including two wing bands edged with ochraceous buff 

 the outer greater coverts usually partly white. * * *" 



He says that the first winter plmnage is similar to the juvenal "but 

 a deeper brown above and the yellow below replaced (except on the 

 chin which is a brighter yellow) by pale olive gray, darkest on the 

 throat and washed with wood-brown on the sides. The crissum and 

 middle of the abdomen are white. Dull black, brownish or yellowish 

 edged lesser coverts (the 'shoulders') distinguish young birds from 

 adults which have them bright yellow, the black of the wings and tail 

 is besides less intense, the wing bands are browner and the chin 

 duller yellow." 



The first nuptial plumage is acquired by an extensive prenuptial 

 molt, in April and early May, involving all the contour plumage but 

 not the wings or the tail. "It is interesting to note that the black 

 wings and tail are assumed with the juvenal plumage, the black crown 

 at the prenuptial moult." 



Adults have a complete postnuptial molt, beginning about the middle 

 of September, which produces the adult winter plumage, "similar to 

 the first vdnter but a richer deeper brown above, the crown, throat and 

 sides of breast more distinctly yellow, the edgings of the wings and tail 

 (which are jet black) paler and most important of all the 'shoulders' 

 bright canary-yellow instead of brown. Young and old now become 

 indistinguishable. ' ' 



Adults also have an extensive prenuptial molt, as in the young bird. 

 Adults in spring can be distinguished from young birds of the first 

 year by the yellow "shoulders." 



The molts of the female correspond to those of the male, but her 

 plumage is always duller, her wings and tail are browner, and she never 

 has a black cap. 



Food. — The gold finch is primarily an eater of seeds, notably those 

 of the composite family. Among its favorite food plants may be 

 mentioned grey birch, alder, thistle, sunflower, evening primrose, 

 ragweed, and above all, perhaps, the dandelion. It is, however, no 

 uncommon sight to see the birds in spring, when caterpillars are small, 

 picking them from their webs. 



William Brewster (1906) says: "The Yellow-birds also subsist 

 largely on the seeds of pitch pines, when these trees are well supplied 



