AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



529. Astragalinus tristis. 5^4 inches. 



These beautiful little creatures are often known as 

 Thistle-birds and Wild Canaries, the former name be- 

 cause they are often seen on thistles, from the doM'n of 

 which their nests are largely made, and the latter name 

 because of the sweet canary-like song. Their flight is 

 a peculiar series of undulations accompanied by an in- 

 termittent twitter. They are very sociable and breed 

 usually in communities as well as travel in flocks in 

 the winter. Their food is chiefly of seeds and they 

 often come to gardens in fall and winter to partake of 

 sunflower seeds, these flowers often being raised for the 

 sole purpose of furnishing food for the finches in the 

 winter. 



Song. — Sweet, prolonged and canary-like; call, a 

 musical "tcheer," and a twittering in flight. 



Nest. — Of thistle down, plant fibres and grasses, in 

 forks of bushes, most often willows or alders near 

 water. Four or five unmarked, pale bluish eggs. 



Range. — N. A. east of the Rockies; breeds from Vir 

 finla and Missouri ncrtli to Labrador; winters in U. S- 



