The American Goldfinch has been recognized as the New Jersey State Bird. During the beginning of January, these birds are found in groups of eight to ten, males and females together on the highest tops of trees located near water courses in the State of Louisiana.
During this time, they feed on tender and juicy foods like the opening
buds of maples. The breeding during the summer months principally takes
place in the Middle Districts although a few of them are found to breed
in the State of Ohio and in Kentucky. The state of New York observes an
abundance of the American Goldfinch during the mid- April summer
months. The nest of the American Goldfinch is small and handsome and it is constituted by fastening various lichens by means of saliva.
The nest which contains softer inner linings are normally fixed on the branch of the Lombardy poplar or even made at one secured side of a twig. Elder bushes, a few feet above the ground are also chosen by the American Goldfinch to build their nests. Four to six eggs are deposited by the female bird and the white eggs contains tinges of blue along with reddish- brown spots at the larger end. Only one brood is raised in one season. The young ones are fed from the mouth and they follow the parents for a long period.
A notable feature about the family life of a male and his female partner is that when the female bird feels annoyed by the presence of an intruder in her nest, she flies off to a neighboring tree and gives a call to her mate after which the male bird approaches the intruder while still maintaining safe distance from the unwelcome visitant. After the intruder goes away, the male bird then happily gets back to his nest and the female bird accompanies her mate to their nest.
The American Goldfinch feed on the seeds of the hemp, the sun-flower, lettuce and on various species of thistle. The fruit of the elder happens to be its primary food during the winter seasons. The month of August is so special for the bird lovers because of the sweet melodious song of the male bird. The love of the American Goldfinch to stay in close proximity to water has made them settle nearer to Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Superior and even along the shores of the Genesee River especially in the latter half of the summer season.
The young males assume full plumage in the spring season and the old males assume the duller tints of the female and lose all their beauty during the winter months. The male American Goldfinch is bright lemon- yellow in color which gradually fades to a yellowish white color. The upper part of the head, wings and tail are black. The female birds are characterized by a brownish- olive color but the black color is not present on the head like the male birds. Grey- yellow color marks the fore neck and the breast and the lower parts are grayish- white. During winter, the young and old of both the sexes look alike.
These birds can be trained to engage in fun- activities like pulling a small- seed- filled chariot towards in bill, but in reality this act which entertains the humans, actually causes solitary grief to the captive birds which are separated from their companions and deprived from procuring food in a manner which they had learned from the nature. But when birds are caught during the spring, they truly develop the feelings of getting deprived from the company of their mates. They linger in the trap- cages and finally die after a few days.
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