About Golden Finches

Golden finches, also known in America simply as "goldfinches," are frequent visitors to backyards throughout the world. Small in size, they are active and energetic, providing entertainment around bird feeders to observers. They are also useful in keeping down weed populations, due to their unique feeding habits, and their presence is usually encouraged.

  1. Appearance

    • In the spring and the beginning of summer, male golden finches are a brilliant yellow with black foreheads. They are colored this way only during the mating season. The female golden finches, however, have a yellow coloring that's not nearly as bright. In the winter, the golden finches are a more plain brown.

    Vocal Behavior

    • Golden finches are not known for their vocal patterns. Whereas some birds will have musical "songs," the golden finch will usually simply send out "chirping" bird calls, usually in flight when they are with their mates, unless it is mating season, at which time the male golden finch is an active singer.

    Feeding

    • Golden finches are special in the sense that they are one of the few bird species that are strictly vegetarian. They exist mainly on thistle seeds (nyjer), as well as sunflower seeds.

    Breeding

    • Unlike other species of birds, golden finches will usually only have one clutch of eggs a year. There are usually two to seven eggs in each clutch.

    Adaptation

    • Golden finches are notoriously adaptable around people. They have no fear of living close to people, and will live in both cities and suburbs, as long they can find an abundant supply of seed.