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Flautist Of The Forest
Written By: William McReynolds - Highlands Plateau Audubon Society | Issue: 2018/06 - June
Bird sounds have appeared in classical compositions by Beethoven, Handel, Haydn, Respighi, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Strauss, among others. This jewel of the forest, the Goldfinch, inspired Vivaldi to compose a soaring flute concerto. (You can find it at youtube.com/watch?v=uAbZIqOUDjk or search YouTube.)
The lemon-yellow body plumage contrasts with black wings and tail feathers to give the male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) a canary-like appearance. Note the jaunty black cap the male sports. The female is a more modest olive green and yellow.
Goldfinch live in flocks and colonies and forage in small flocks. Easily recognized on the wing, their alternating wing beats with brief coasting produces a flight pattern that is wavelike, an undulating scallop.
Goldfinch are seed eaters and have beaks well-suited to opening seedpods. They also eat some insects, the sushi of the forest.
They range widely in North America – in the summer breeding season coast to coast from Canada to California and east to North Carolina, and in the winter in the Southern U.S. into Mexico. They are shortdistance migrants. Their favorite habitats are weedy fields and meadows and open areas in woodlands, transitional woodlands over old growth.
They molt in both spring and autumn. Their pair bonds are monogamous and lasting. A pair raises broods together year after year. At night the female emits a small sound to guide the male back to the nest.
Goldfinch breed in late summer when seeds are plentiful.
The female builds the nest with the male bringing her nesting materials. The nest will contain 4–6 peanut-sized, bluish white eggs. The female incubates the eggs, the male bringing her food, for about two weeks. The mother feeds her hatchlings regurgitated seeds.
Their first plumage is complete enough in two weeks for fledging to begin. The male feeds the fledges after they have left the nest.
Happy June birding from the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society. Listen to the early morning Summer Symphony.
The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, focused on enjoying and preserving birds and their habitats, is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society and a 501(c)(3) organization. For information on all our activities and membership, please visit highlandsaudubonsociety. org.
