PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 179 



Spinus tristis (Linn.). American Goldfinch 



1. Natal Down. No specimen seen. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above wood-brown, giayer on crown, yellowish on forehead. Below, including 

 sides of head primrose-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. Bill and feet 

 pinkish buff, becoming dusky with age. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult beginning late in September which involves the body 

 plumage but not the wings nor the tail. 



Similar to previous plumage but a deeper brown above and the yellow below re- 

 placed (^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. 



4. First Nuptial Plu:mage acquired by a partial prenuptial 

 moult during April and early May which involves the entire 

 body plumage but neither the wings nor the tail. The bright 

 canary and black dress is assumed, old and young distinguish- 

 able only by the brownish "shoulders," and the duller and 

 more worn wings and tail of the young bird. It is interesting to 

 note that the black wings and tail are assumed with the juvenal 

 plumage, the black crown at the prenuptial moult. The effects 

 of wear are marked, for the white edgings due to fading are lost 

 by abrasion before the end of the summer so that the edges of 

 the tertiaries and secondaries become scalloped out, and very 

 little if any white remains when the postnuptial moult occurs. 

 This is illustrated by plate II, figs. 4 and 5. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning about the middle of September. Similar 

 to first winter 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 canaiy-yellow instead of brown. 

 Young and old now become indistinguishable. 



