Finches (Fringillidae)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) - HBW 15, p. 559
French: Chardonneret jaune
German: Goldzeisig
Spanish: Jilguero Yanqui
Taxonomy: Fringilla tristis Linnaeus, 1758, South Carolina, USA.
Geographical variation slight and clinal; some races perhaps untenable. Four subspecies currently recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- pallida ( Mearns, 1890) - S Canada (SC British Columbia E to W Ontario) and C & WC USA (E from to E Oregon, S to NW Colorado); winters also from N California S to NC Mexico.
- jewetti ( van Rossem, 1943) - extreme SW Canada (SW British Columbia) S in W USA to C California.
- salicamans ( Grinnell, 1897) - SW USA (W Sierra Nevada, in California); winters E to Mohave and Colorado Deserts and S to NW Mexico (N Baja California).
- tristis ( Linnaeus, 1758) - SE Canada (E from Ontario) and C & E USA (E from SE Minnesota, S to NE Texas and N South Carolina); winters S & SE USA S to C Mexico.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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Both dorsal and frontal views of a female perched and calling. Locality Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Don DesJardin 5 January 2013 19 weeks ago 23 sec 4.7 -
A male, then a female, feeding on Purple Coneflowers Locality Mount Airy, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Robert Schaefer 23 August 2001 5 years ago 36 sec 4.6 -
Different males moulting from winter to summer plumage Locality Mount Airy, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Robert Schaefer 14 April 2005 5 years ago 33 sec 4.6 -
Two views of a male, close to a complete molt into breeding plumage, perched looking around. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Don DesJardin 27 March 2011 2 years ago 32 sec 4.5 -
Female at backyard feeder Locality Washington DC, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Thorongil CVI 3 April 2011 2 years ago 38 sec 4.5 -
A bird at a feeder Locality North Carolina, USA (United States)
Juan Sanabria 1 August 2011 1 year ago 30 sec 4.3 -
Male in breeding plumage Locality Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
St-Tremblay 30 May 2008 4 years ago 1 min 11 sec 4.3 -
A male bird at the White Spruce feeding station Locality Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
St-Tremblay 27 May 2008 4 years ago 1 min 13 sec 4.2 -
Two males in breeding plumage at a feeder, then one drinking Locality Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Alexander Grimwade 20 April 2006 6 years ago 31 sec 4.2 -
A pair in winter plumage at a feeder, the male on the left, showing partial breeding colors Locality Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Alexander Grimwade 5 April 2006 6 years ago 18 sec 4.2 -
A female on a handrail and dropping to a fountain to drink Locality Rock Creek Park, Washington DC, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 4 May 2006 6 years ago 43 sec 4.1 -
Several males in breeding plumage at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 40 sec 4.1 -
A male in breeding plumage at a feeder, showing agression towards other birds and calling Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 36 sec 4.1 -
A female in breeding plumage at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 21 sec 4.1 -
At a feeder Locality North Carolina, USA (United States)
Juan Sanabria 1 August 2011 1 year ago 43 sec 4 -
A female attending a feeder, defending its turn. Locality Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 10 May 2011 1 year ago 23 sec 4 -
Males and a female at a feeder. Locality Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary, Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 10 May 2011 1 year ago 26 sec 4 -
Female and male in breeding plumage on a Lilac branch, matched Locality Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
St-Tremblay 28 May 2008 4 years ago 1 min 13 sec 4 -
An adult female perched and looking around. Locality Ventura, Ventura County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Don DesJardin 15 November 2008 4 years ago 36 sec 4 -
A male in breeding plumage at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 25 sec 4 -
Three males and a female, all in breeding plumage, at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 15 sec 3.9 -
A male feeding on a thistle Locality Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 10 August 2006 5 years ago 27 sec 3.8 -
A male in transtional plumage and a female, at a feeder Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 33 sec 3.8 -
A young begging and being fed by a male Locality Hayward, Alameda County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 8 July 2004 6 years ago 26 sec 3.7 -
Molting males at a feeder Locality Hayward, Alameda County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 3 March 2004 6 years ago 26 sec 3.7 -
Two birds in winter plumage on a seed feeder Locality Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Alexander Grimwade 14 March 2006 7 years ago 18 sec 3.7 -
Two birds feeding on seed pods in a Sycamore tree. Locality Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, San Dimas, Los Angeles County, California, USA (United States)
Paul Clarke 6 February 2010 3 years ago 26 sec 3.7 -
Female foraging. Locality Parc des Rapides, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (ssp tristis)
Christophe Gouraud 23 September 2008 4 years ago 19 sec 3.7 -
Male bird perched in a white Spruce. Locality Saguenay, Quebec, Canada
St-Tremblay 1 July 2007 4 years ago 1 min 13 sec 3.5 -
Female on seed feeder Locality Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA (United States)
Alexander Grimwade 14 February 2009 4 years ago 22 sec 3.3 -
non-breeding plumaged birds at feeder (with Common Redpoll) Locality West Friendship, Howard County, Maryland, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Martin Kennewell 5 March 2011 2 years ago 21 sec 3.3 -
a bird foraging for tree buds Locality Nova Scotia, Canada
Wout van den Brink 31 August 2002 3 years ago 25 sec 3 -
A male in breeding plumage at a feeder, eating seeds and calling once Locality Greenwich Audubon Centre, Connecticut, USA (United States) (ssp tristis)
Josep del Hoyo 1 May 2006 6 years ago 17 sec 2.8 -
A male drinking from a birdbath Locality Hayward, Alameda County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 10 April 2004 6 years ago 2 sec 2.7 -
Several birds feeding on fallen seeds Locality Hayward, Alameda County, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 25 March 2004 6 years ago 14 sec 2.7 -
A male in breeding plumage perched on the top of a bush Locality Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA (United States) (ssp salicamans)
Michael Grunow 27 June 2006 5 years ago 14 sec 2.6
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