American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Torrey Wenger
Wetzel State Game Area, Macomb Co., MI. June 2009 © Willie McHale This species is sponsored by Monica Ann Evans (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II)
The American Goldfinch is one of the most while this species was found in slightly more townships in MBBA II compared to MBBA I, it common and widespread birds in Michigan, but was documented in approximately 10% fewer it can seem to disappear during the winter. blocks in MBBA II. Observer effort was similar During the fall, the bright yellow males molt between the two Atlases. into the same muted brown as the females and juveniles. While these “brown-finches” will As in Michigan, the second Atlas efforts in both remain all winter, casual observers don’t notice New York and Ontario found the goldfinch them, searching instead for the summer-attired mostly unchanged in its distribution (Young male. As goldfinches are gregarious during all 2008, Leckie and Cadman 2007). parts of the year, even feeding together during the breeding season, it’s easiest to find the flock. Breeding Biology
As a breeding species in Michigan, the The American Goldfinch truly deserves its American Goldfinch is unusual. Unlike more name: it can be found in all of the 48 than 95% of other terrestrial birds, the goldfinch contiguous states during some portion of the feeds its nestlings only seeds (Burghardt et al. year. The population retreats from the southern 2009, Middleton 1993). Brown-headed third of Canada and expands into the southern Cowbird chicks, which thrive in the nests of U.S. and Mexico during the winter. insect-eating warblers, rarely survive past three
days and never fledge from goldfinch nests Distribution (Middleton 1993). The goldfinch is also one of A bird of edges and early successional habitats, the latest nesting songbirds. The birds may pair the American Goldfinch occurs throughout up during the winter flock (Middleton 1993) but Michigan, becoming less common farther north. most nesting in Michigan occurs July through From MBBA I to MBBA II, the goldfinch September (Sydlik 1991). increased its distribution in the UP and remained stable in the NLP and SLP. Looking Nests are placed in open areas with shrubs and at blocks, the UP increase is more pronounced small trees, such as residential areas and old (going from 10% to 40%) but the NLP and SLP fields (Sydlik 1991). Females choose their both show a decrease of about 20%. Overall, mates based on the brightness of their plumage,
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Torrey Wenger using that as a signal of their overall health requiring little management attention at this (Johnson et al 1993). First-time nesters raise a time. single brood; experienced females leave their first brood with their mate and attempt a second nest with a new male (Middleton 1993).
Abundance and Population Trends (Click to view trends from the BBS) Since 1966, American Goldfinch breeding populations have remained stable nationally and increased both regionally (0.6% per year) and within the state (2.0% annually) (Sauer et al. 2008). Winter populations are also widespread and apparently stable across the state, with goldfinches consistently among the “top five” Winter Feeder Survey birds in both total numbers and percent of feeders visited (Kalamazoo Nature Center 2009, unpublished data).
Fewer breeding attempts were confirmed in part due to the late nesting season (many observers had turned in their records before young goldfinches left the nest). Additionally, less emphasis was placed on “confirming” a species during this MBBA effort, unlike during MBBA I (Kalamazoo Nature Center 2004).
Conservation Needs European settlement was beneficial for the American Goldfinch, increasing both edge habitat for nesting and “weedy” food sources (Middleton 1993). The Conservation Reserve Program, a farm management plan that sets aside land for grassland-nesting species, has also benefitted goldfinches (McCoy et al. 1999). While forest succession and the move towards “clean” farming both work to decrease appropriate habitat and food availability, this can be easily countered by thoughtful landscaping of urban and suburban yards (Middleton 1993). Natural landscapes should be allowed to experience disturbances that produce the desired habitat (Brawn et al. 2001). The American Goldfinch is a species that fits easily into the human-dominated landscape,
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) Torrey Wenger
Literature Cited Sydlik, M.A. 1991. American Goldfinch. In Brewer, R., G.A. McPeek, and R.J. Adams Burghardt, K.T., D.W. Tallamy, and W.G. Jr (eds.). 1991. The Atlas of Breeding Birds Shriver. 2009. Impact of native plants on of Michigan. Michigan State University bird and butterfly biodiversity in suburban Press. East Lansing, MI. landscapes. Conservation Biology 23: 219- Young. M.A. 2008. American Goldfinch. In 224. McGowan, K.J. and K. Corwin (eds.). 2008 Brawn, J.D., S.K. Robinson, and F.R. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New Thompson III. 2001. The role of York State. Cornell University Press. disturbance in the ecology and conservation Ithaca, NY. of birds. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 32: 251-276. Suggested Citation Johnson, K., D. Rosetta, and D.N. Burley. 1993. Preferences of female American Wenger, T. 2010. American Goldfinch Goldfinches (Cardeulis tristis) for natural (Carduelis Tristis). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. and artificial male traits. Behavioral Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. Ecology 4: 138-143. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. 2004. Michigan Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Breeding Bird Atlas II Handbook. Accessed online at:
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center