The Goldfinch 
67 
Winter 
Plumage 
noxious weed. His singing continues from early spring until late in 
August. Does he postpone housekeeping until thistle-seeds are ripe 
enough to eat? 
The seasonal 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 that at this season the flocks of Goldfinches 
are really composed of both sexes, the male bird having assumed, when 
he molted his summer dress in October, a plumage 
so closely resembling that of the female that in winter 
both sexes and all ages look very much alike. 
The male retains this inconspicuous dress until late in February, 
when one may notice a gradual change taking place in some of the birds. 
This is owing to the molt, or renewal of feathers, which is continued 
through March and April, until, by the first of May, our resplendent 
bird is with us again. The change from yellow to brownish, and back 
again to yellow may be noted by the student in the field, by the aid of his 
field-glass, and he will find that the gradations in coloring between the 
two extremes are very numerous. 
The agriculturist should be interested in this bird. Every thistle 
along the highway is a prolific source of future trouble ; but, when you see 
it ornamented with an animated bit of gold and black, you may know 
that nature is interposing one of her potent checks to the too-rapid 
increase of weed-pests. Every Goldfinch saves the farmer much hard 
work by destroying weed-seeds, which form the bulk of the bird’s food- 
supply ; and during the breeding-season it also gives its young consider- 
able animal food, consisting of insects of various kinds, many of them 
highly injurious to crops and fruit. 
In spring, if dandelions are permitted to go to seed on the lawn, or 
in the garden near the house, it is probable that you will be rewarded 
by seeing some of these brilliant yellow-and-black birds come bounding 
by your home to gather these seeds. Alighting near 
its food, or even bending down the dandelion’s stem by 
its own weight, every Goldfinch will enjoy its repast. 
If the sight of these birds affords you pleasure you can have the 
joy of seeing them again later in the summer. Allow some of the lettuce 
plants in your garden to blossom and bear seed, and the birds will pay 
you another visit. They also enjoy the seed of the sunflower, coreopsis, 
zinnia, and other plants, which, with slight encouragement, will grow 
in any odd corner of your grounds. One of the best ways to attract 
any wild bird about the house is to provide it with food ; and everyone 
should think well of the Goldfinch, and ever stand ready to protect it 
should its life be threatened by a cat or a thoughtless person. 
While the Goldfinch is essentially a weed-eating bird, its value to 
man is not alone dependent on its destruction of these noxious plants. 
The food of the young consists largely of plant-lice, caterpillars, grass- 
hoppers and beetles, nearly all of which are extremely harmful insects. 
Persistent 
Seed-eaters 
