12 Bird Day Book 



THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. 



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THE GOLDFINCH, which is also known as the Yellow Bird, 

 Wild Canary, Lettuce Bird and Thistle Bird, has been selected 

 as the first of the series of birds to be shown in natural colors. 

 Presentation in this way renders unnecessary a detailed description 

 of its plumage. The English name of the Goldfinch is well chosen, 

 as the bright yellow of the male when in breeding plumage is like 

 burnished gold. The Latin generic name of the Goldfinch has 

 reference to prickly plants, while its specific name, tristic, sad, 

 refers to its rather plaintive flight note. The female Goldfinch is 

 more modestly dressed than her mate. 



The changes in plumage of the male are very interesting and, 

 to the novice, somewhat puzzling. Until the student becomes 

 acquainted with this bird he may wonder why he sees no males 

 during the winter. The truth is at this season the flocks of sup- 

 posed Goldfinches are really of both sexes, the male bird having 

 assumed in the previous fall, usually by the end of October, a 

 plumage closely resembling that of the female and young bird of 

 the year. 



The male retains this inconspicuous dress until late in Febru- 

 ary, when one can notice a gradual change taking place in some of 

 the birds. This molt, or renewal of feathers is actively continued 

 through March and April, and by the first of May our resplendent 

 bird is with us again. The change from yellow to brownish and 

 back again to yellow can be noted by the student in the field, who 

 with a good opera-glass will find that the variations in plumage 

 between the two extremes are without number. 



The song period with the male Goldfinch continues as long as 

 he wears his gold and black livery, for its commences as early as 

 the middle of March and ends late in August. 



Goldfinches are wee birds, some four and one-half inches in 

 length, but what they lack in size they make up in admirable 

 qualities, one of the chief of which is their gregarious mode of life. 

 Except during the short season devoted to domestic duties, they 



