American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

I arrive around the middle of November and stay till around Mother’s Day. My call is distinctive and might remind you of the words Potato Chip. My favorite food is niger seed, although I’m also a big fan of black oil sunflower seeds. I’m one of the few birds who will eat upside down, so if you hang an upside-down finch feeder out for me, you’ll pretty well guarantee that I’ll be the only customer at that feeder.

Most Likely Found: In the marsh, In the open fields, In your backyard

When: Winter

Where I've photographed: Callaway Gardens, Chinsegut, Circle B Bar Reserve, Lake Apopka, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Oakland Nature Preserve

Read more: American Goldfinch at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ebird: American Goldfinch eBird range


I have written 57 posts including a photo of a American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Springtime Backyard Bird Photography

April 11, 2019 - Our American Goldfinches numbers are dwindling as the weather gets warmer.... After observing the American Goldfinches for several years, I knew that they would perch on the tallest branch near their feeder.... Read more

American Goldfinch

Birds on Bird Finials

May 5, 2017 - Red-winged Blackbird on Finial Male Painted Bunting next to Finial Greenie Painted Bunting Next to Finial Northern Cardinal on Finial Mourning Dove next to Finial American Goldfinches on Finial Hehe, yep!... Read more

American Goldfinch

Backyard Bird Feeder Fun

April 30, 2017 - American Goldfinches with Cardinal Another bird who doesn't worry about making a mess is the Brown Thrasher.... American Goldfinches at Feeder The Red-winged Blackbirds are going through some springtime color changes, too.... American Goldfinch on Hanging Birdbath ...and here is one of his counterparts as she fluffs her wing after…... Read more

American Goldfinch

First Cedar Waxwings of the Spring

April 11, 2017 - Excited by my success with putting out pretty perches for the American Goldfinches, I tried a new tactic to photograph my Painted Buntings.... Here's one last shot of my American Goldfinches before they left us for the year.... Read more

American Goldfinch

Happiness is…

April 3, 2017 - ...watching the American Goldfinches turn yellow and play in your flowers ...... ...listening to the happy calls of the American Goldfinches as they circle your yard.... Read more

American Goldfinch

There’s No Place Like Home

March 4, 2017 - One of my first visitors was this bright yellow American Goldfinch.... A small flock of American Goldfinches flew in, posing nicely on bushes (natural perches instead of bird feeders, good going little guys!).... Read more

Busy Birdbath

Colorful Backyard Fun

April 20, 2016 -  We had so many different birds that day - red cardinals, our new visitor the Blue Jay, our pretty Painted Buntings, the red House Finches, Mourning and Common Ground Doves, Northern Mockingbirds, the Brown Thrashers that are nesting nearby, our wintering Gray Catbird, American Goldfinches that are turning bright yellow,…... Read more

American Goldfinch

First of Fall American Goldfinch!

November 15, 2015 - When I peeked out in the backyard this morning, the sky was gray and the bushes blew about in the wind - but despite the nasty day, there was a bit of sunshine sitting on my bird feeder - my first of fall American Goldfinch!... Read more

American Goldfinch

First of Fall American Goldfinches!

November 14, 2014 - We had exciting visitors in the backyard this afternoon - our first of fall American Goldfinches!...  Potato chip!"  I promptly screeched for Rich, and we both watched with grins as three American Goldfinches descended on the niger feeder.... Read more

American Goldfinch

Backyard Birding with My American Goldfinches

February 10, 2014 -  On this particular afternoon, it was rainy and gross out, but I had fun doing some backyard birding with my American Goldfinches, who were pretty active at the niger feeder.... American Goldfinches are one of the few birds who will eat upside down....  (and ignore the neighbors out with their…... Read more

First of Fall Goldfinch

First of Fall Goldfinches!

November 17, 2013 -  I had been thinking that it was time to put out my niger feeder, then I looked out and saw three Painted Buntings and four American Goldfinches on my feeders.... Read more

American Goldfinch

My Backyard Winter Wonderland

January 15, 2013 -  This weekend I had all these different kinds of birds: American Goldfinch Pine Siskin Painted Bunting Eastern Phoebe American Robin Cedar Waxwing Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Palm Warbler House Finch Northern Cardinal Yellow-throated Warbler Boat-tailed Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Sandhill Crane White Ibis Mourning Dove Common Ground Dove Did you notice that I…... Read more

American Goldfinch

Bright and Yellow

December 18, 2012 - ...My favorite wintertime bird is the goldfinch. They spend lots of time at our backyard feeder, and our cats spend a lot of time watching them! When I go outside to refill the feeder, I think they have a watchbird monitoring my activity. As soon as I step away, I hear a chorus of sweet […] Read more

American Goldfinch

Mellow Yellow

March 7, 2012 - The American Goldfinches that are cleaning out my niger feeder on a regular basis are starting to turn yellow!  On a recent rainy weekend morning, I sat in my favorite upstairs window ("bird blind") and photographed the little finches.  The finches will line up waiting for their turn at the…... Read more

American Goldfinch Portrait

January 6, 2012 - The American Goldfinches got used to me very quickly.... American Goldfinch The Painted Buntings were out as well.... Read more

American Goldfinch

Our First-of-Season Goldfinches!!

December 6, 2011 - We had our first-of-season American Goldfinches in the backyard on Sunday!  What a nice surprise.  These are my favorite little winter visitors.  In our house, we call them "Goldy's finches" or "goldyfinches" after our cat...... Read more

False Alarm

November 29, 2011 - ...We had a Goldfinch false alarm last week. I thought I saw one on the niger feeder, but it turned out to be a House Finch. I did hear goldfinches at the Circle B Bar Reserve last weekend. I can’t wait until they make it to our backyard! They are my favorite little winter birds. […] Read more

Callaway Gardens Vacation: Part 3 – Birds!

August 28, 2011 - One of the fun parts of visiting Georgia is the opportunity to see birds who only visit Florida during the winter.  One of my favorite birds is the American Goldfinch, with his sweet call that sounds like "potato chip!"  He lives in Georgia year-round, and in August he still wears…... Read more

Stoneybrook Signs of Spring

April 6, 2011 - Brown Thrasher The American Goldfinches continue to grace us with their sweet calls and cheerful presence.  I haven't seen a male in the past few weeks.  (Males are distinguished by their bright black heads.)  The females continue to visit our niger feeder.  Their feathers are turning brighter by the day. …... Read more

You Know it’s Springtime at Circle B Bar Reserve if…

February 20, 2011 - ) Sandhill Crane on Nest I spotted a couple of American Goldfinches feeding high in some oak trees.... American Goldfinch You would think I'd get bored with taking pictures of Great Blue Herons, my favorite "fisherbirds" that can be found year-round at Circle B.... King Rail Species List: American Bittern,…... Read more

Bitterns Saying Hello at Circle B Bar Reserve

January 7, 2011 - Bald Eagle I had planned to walk down to the lake and look for little birds along the Alligator Alley path, but they had posted a fish kill sign, noting that the cold weather causes fish to die (smelly!)  Then I noticed that the recent rains had caused a tiny…... Read more

Goldfinches

January 4, 2011 - ...The goldfinches are eating us out of house and home this winter!  I’m having to refill the niger feeder every couple of days.  The birds line up in the crape myrtle in order to wait for a free port at the feeder. I went out with The Beast and tried to capture some videos of […] Read more