Birds of Oregon and Washington 83 



THE WILLOW GOLDFINCH. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION : 



Yellow body ; black wings, tail and crown. 



Length, 5 inches. 



Found anywhere in open country, especially about 

 weeds that have feathered seeds, and thistles. 



This is the western species of the American 

 Goldfinch and differs so slightly from that bird 

 in appearance that eminent authorities have 

 opposed noticing the distinctions and giving it 

 another name. He is more generally noticed 

 than most other birds in our locality, on account 

 of his striking color. Resembling, as he does, 

 the Canary, he is often called the " Wild Canary." 

 But not many know more than the appearance 

 of this bird of " gentle ways and sweet disposi- 

 tion." Few know his sweet song, like that of 

 the Siskin (who is a cousin, as before intimated), 

 and fewer know his undulating flight with the 

 sweet accompanying song, which seems to rise 

 and fall in pitch with his wave-like movement. 



He begins to change his dress when the nest- 

 ing-season is over, and in winter appears in 

 darker and less noticeable garb the male win- 

 ter dress being somewhat like the summer dress 

 of the female. 



