230 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



red ; top of head red but not as bright as in male. The red on top of he^id of young 

 male is often of a coppery hue. Length about 5| inches ; extent about 9 inches. 



Habitat. Northern portions of Northern Hemisphere, south irregularly in winter, 

 in North America, to the middle United States (Washington, D. C., Kansas, south- 

 eastern Oregon). 



The Redpoll, a native of high northern latitudes, occurs in the south- 

 ern parts of Pennsylvania only as an irregular and occasional winter 

 visitant, but in some sections of the northern portions of the state it 

 appears to be a rather common and regular winter visitor. Redpolls 

 were exceedingly abundant in eastern Pennsylvania in the winter of 

 1878-79, at which time they were observed about fields and houses in 

 flocks of from twenty to two hundred or more. Last winter (1889-90) 

 they were found in large flocks in the neighborhood of Montoursville, 

 Ly coming county, by Mr. F. F. Castlebury, and they were also quite 

 plentiful in different sections of Wyoming, Lackawanna and Susque- 

 hanna counties, where a number of specimens were obtained by Mr. 

 George P. Friant, of Scranton, and myself. The note of the Redpoll is 

 very similar to that of the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis, Linn.). 

 The food, during their sojourn with us, consists almost entirely of seeds 

 of various grasses and weeds ; the buds of different trees and some few 

 insects are also eaten. 



GENUS SPINUS KOCH. 

 Spinus tristis (Lure.). 



American Goldfinch; Salad-bird; Wild-canary; Yellow-bird; Thistle- 

 bird. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 31. Fig. I, adult male in summer). 



Legs, feet and bill flesh color. The male in early autumn loses his black cap, and 

 his bright yellow upper and lower parts change to a dull brownish or greenish-yel- 

 low, similar to the general plumage of the female. The male in winter may often 

 be distinguished by the darker tail and wing feathers with their more conspicuous 

 white or whitish markings. 



Female. No black cap ; upper parts olivaceous ; wings and tail dusky, marked 

 with whitish as in male ; lower parts whitish, more or less tinged with yellowish. 



Young. Like winter adults, but duller in color. Length about 5| inches ; extent 

 about 9 inches. 



Habitat. North America generally, breeding southward to the middle districts of 

 the United States (to about the Potomac and Ohio rivers, Kansas and California), 

 and wintering mostly south of the northern boundary of the United States. 



The American Goldfinch is a common resident in Pennsylvania dur- 

 ing all seasons. These birds are usually observed in flocks which move 

 from one locality to another as their food diminishes. Even in the 

 breeding season (June, July and August), it is not uncommon to find 

 several families nesting within a short distance of each other. The 

 males in summer frequently associate in small flocks. The nest, an ex- 

 ceedingly neat and beautiful cup-shaped structure, is composed exter- 



