FINCHES, SPARROWS 



(529) Astragalinus tristis 



tristis (Linn.) (Gr., name for some 

 linch; Lat., sad. from its call note). 



GOLDFINCH; THISTLE-BIRD; 

 "WILD CANARY." Plumage as 

 shown, the a" being the nearer bird. 



Ill summei Bright clear yellow, 



shading to white on the upper tail 

 coverts; cap, wings and tail black; 

 inner webs of tail feathers and mar- 

 gins of wing feathers broadly white. 

 ill winter — Dull colored like the 9 . 

 L., S-oo; W., 2.75; T., 2.00. Ncsl 

 — Of plant fibres and grasses, lined 

 with thistledown; in bushes, five 

 to twenty feet up; four or five pale 

 bluish eggs, .65 X .48. 



Range — Eastern North America, 

 breeding from southern Canada south 

 to Ga. and Ark. Winters from the 

 Canadian border to the Gulf. 



quarrel. Their flight is quite rapid and only sUghtly un- 

 dulatory. 



Nearly all the Redpolls that visit us are of the common 

 type form, Linaria. But sometimes we may see a larger, 

 darker colored individual which is the Greater Redpoll, or 

 a larger and much whiter variety, the Hoary Redpoll. 



GOLDFINCHES are living bits of sunshine, dear to the 

 hearts of every one. They are residents in the northern half 

 of the United States, but migratory in southern Canada. 

 In winter both sexes are of a dull olive color, with darker 

 wings and tail. They travel about in small flocks, feeding 

 upon seeds of weeds and trees. At this season they often 

 associate with Redpolls and Siskins, both of which have 

 similar dispositions and feeding habits. 



In May the plumage of the male commences to change 

 and by the end of the month he has assumed his beautiful 

 summer dress and is in full song. The Goldfinch song is one 

 of the most beautiful pieces of bird music, resembling that 

 of the canary but wilder and sweeter. Their call notes too 



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