482 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



water part way up to its flanks, frequently dipped its head and shook 

 its feathers and body vigorously, making drops of water fly in all 

 directions. Some flew momentarily up into nearby willows to shake 

 their feathers and preen. One female stayed in the water and shook 

 herself about every 3 seconds for 26 seconds. The average time each 

 bird remained in the water was close to 15 seconds. One July morning 

 six goldfinches bathed in a pool 9 X 12 X % inches. Standing about 

 2 inches apart, they dipped their breasts and necks in the water, fluttered 

 their wings to throw water over their backs, and fanned their tails. There 

 was no fighting; when one bird was crowded by another, it swiftly 

 moved out of the way. 



Roosting. — At the Grand Canyon, Ariz., Townsend (1925) saw 24 

 green-backed goldfinches settle for the night in a cotton wood still in 

 leaf close to his cabin. Comby (1944) writes: 



A male Green-backed Goldfinch * * * chose as a sleeping perch a tree tobacco 

 plant {Nicotiana glauca) in my yard, on San Jose Creek, near Whittier, Calif. 

 He was seen to roost there daily throughout most of January and a part of Feb- 

 ruary, 1944. Each evening he came to the plant early, about an hour and a half 

 before sundown. Here he slept for twenty nights, January 10 to 29, inclusive, 

 but was not to be seen on the 30th or 31st. A light shower or drizzle on the 30th 

 may have been a disturbing factor. He returned to the plant on February 1, 

 to remain through the 16th, although toward the end of this period he came later, 

 just before dark. This was the only individual of the species to perch in the 

 shrub or to be seen in the neighborhood at this time except for two or three 

 occasions when another individual alighted momentarily in a near-by tree tobacco. 

 Although the male goldfinch used the same plant for sleeping, he did not always 

 rest on the same branch or face the same direction ; his position varied, it is esti- 

 mated, from AYi to 5% feet from the ground. Like many other birds he slept 

 with head tucked "under the wing." 



The first season's growth of this plant retains its succulent leaves and stems 

 throughout the winter. The yellow-green bird was well camouflaged in the 

 yellowish-green foliage, and careful inspection was necessary to distinguish it; 

 discovery of the roosting place was made as the bird flew into the shrub. 



Flocks. — Goldfinches wander widely, sometimes alone, more often 

 in pairs or flocks, in search of food, water, and nesting and roosting 

 sites. Flocking becomes pronounced when the birds assemble to 

 forage, drink, or bathe. They Uke to assemble with others on the 

 same bush. If frightened, which they often are, they fly off together, but 

 they seldom, if ever, land all together. When alighting they scatter 

 like a thrown handful of sand, some flying straight on, others turning 

 right or left; some land on bushes, some on trees. If a bird finds it 

 has landed without companions, it generally flies to a place where 

 other goldfinches are concentrating. 



In October an observer watched a flock of more than 60 goldfinches 

 foraging on an open hiUtop. When disturbed, the flock flew up, 

 circled, and generally returned to the same spot. The birds frequently 



