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GOLDFINCH AT A GLANCE NAME: American
goldfinch, or Carduelis tristis. Often called ``wild canary''
FAMILY: Finch family
COLORS: Summertime, male bright yellow with white wing bars and black cap and tail;
female olive yellow with brownish-black wings and tail and white wing bars. Winter, both
browner.
VOICE: Male voice canary like; call is see-me
HABITAT: Year-round in eastern Virginia. Likes weedy fields and suburban back yards. To
attract, provide water because they love to bathe.
NESTING: Female builds cup of plant material woven tight enough to hold water and
places it 4-14 feet above ground in fork of tree. Late nesters, June-September, with 4-5
pale blue eggs.
FOOD: In nature, thistle seeds, dandelions, goldenrods, weeds, vegetables and insects.
At a feeder, thistle and sunflower seeds.
HELPFUL PLANTS: White ash, box elder, grape, sunflower, rose, red mulberry, osage
orange, slash and loblolly pine, serviceberry, sweet gum and thistle.
Sources: ``How to Attract Birds'' by Ortho, ``Illustrated Guide to Birds'' by
Sunset, ``Birds in Southern Gardens'' and ``Audubon Guide to North American Birds'' |
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