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Bird Species: G
American Goldfinch
Where They Live: Every province and state contains "goldfinch country." The ideal habitat for these cosmopolitan birds is a once agricultural field that now is overgrown with un-mowed goldenrod, dandelion and thistle. Visit such an area near your part of the country in late summer or early fall, and you will likely find goldfinches foraging on the seed heads or clinging to the plant stems of wild field plants. Nests usually are located in trees that border such fields. A forked branch about ten feet up in a deciduous tree is an ideal nest site. Goldfinches are master homebuilders. Nests contain thick walls of tightly woven plant material forming a cup lined with thistle or milkweed down. They are so tightly constructed that goldfinch nests actually have been found filled with water after a heavy downpour.
What They Eat: Next quiz question: what is the preferred food of a bird species that has been variously referred to as catnip-bird, beet-bird, lettuce-bird and salad-bird? American goldfinches are 100% herbivores. Their conical bill is a sure sign of a seedeater. Its small size suggests that goldfinches prefer plants with tiny seeds, and natural choices include the seeds of thistle, goldenrod, burdock and dandelion. At feeders, the goldfinch's affinity for Nyjer™ seed is legendary. These tiny seeds, imported from Africa and Asia, are rich in nutrition and energy. The birds are so focused on seed for food that they even feed their nestlings regurgitated seeds. Goldfinches are the last species to build nests, lay eggs and raise young over much of their North American range. It is their preference for seeds that likely explains this behavior. By waiting to begin the reproductive cycle, goldfinches are assured a plentiful supply of seeds on mature, native plants. An added benefit for them is that they avoid that period when female brown-headed cowbirds are looking for nests in which to deposit eggs. This strategy of substitute parenting by the cowbird, called "brood parasitism," has not been beneficial to the surrogate parents' offspring.
Appearance: There is no better justification for keeping feeders well stocked through the spring and summer months than the sight of a Nyjer™ -filled tube feeder with a male American goldfinch on every perch. The brilliant, lemon yellow plumage is handsomely contrasted with a black cap, black wings and tail. But this impressive appearance is reserved for breeding season only. The male goes through a molt. In winter the black cap disappears, and the bright yellow dims to a drab, olive-yellow color. Females maintain their appearance throughout the year, a soft, olive-yellow color with white wing bars on dusky wings, and a dark, notched tail.
Voice: The beautiful vocalization of the American goldfinch makes it easy to understand why they are often referred to as our "wild canaries." In addition, their song and calls are easily recognized and memorized by bird lovers. The song of the male goldfinch is similar to that of other finches in that it is a rather long collection of warbles, twitters and musical sounds. It is distinctive, often described as being "sweeter" sounding, both literally and figuratively. The song almost always contains within the phrasing a lovely, slurred, accented "sssswwwwweeee" sound. This vocalization is sometimes heard alone as a call note. One of the common contact notes made by goldfinches waiting their turn at your feeder is something that sounds amazingly like "po-tato-chip." As goldfinches fly into your yard in their typical undulating flight pattern, listen for a pretty "per-CHICK-o-ree."
The Last Yellow Rose of Summer
Across their wide North American range, American goldfinches are just about the last birds of summer to build nests, lay eggs and raise young. By waiting to begin the reproductive cycle, they are assured a plentiful supply of seeds on mature plants, such as the thistle. Goldfinches wait for the thistle to produce down for nest building as well as seeds to feed to their nestlings.
An added benefit to the late breeding is that goldfinches are able to avoid female brown-headed cowbirds looking for nests in which to deposit eggs. Substitute parenting by the cowbird is called "brood parasitism," and it is not beneficial to the offspring of other surrogate parents.
The female goldfinch selects the nest site and weaves a cup-shaped nest from grass and plant fibers, lining it with silky thistledown seen on page 3. The nest is so tightly constructed that some have been found filled with water after a heavy rain.
The male's role during the incubation period is to keep his mate well fed. Once the eggs hatch, however, both parents feed their offspring. Goldfinches are complete herbivores, so focused on seed for food that they even feed their nestlings regurgitated seeds.The best reasons to keep feeding stations well stocked throughout the summer is the sight of a Nyjer™-filled tube feeder with a male American goldfinch on every perch. Their dazzling breeding season plumage makes them look like lemon-yellow canaries. But when the male goes through its fall molt, the black cap disappears and the bright yellow dims to a drab, olive-yellow color. They are so different looking that many people ask, "Where did my goldfinches go?" Females remain a soft, olive-yellow color all year.
In much the same way as your backyard birds display different eating preferences, you will notice their different flying styles as well. The little yellow and black "roller coaster" approaching your feeding station is the American goldfinch, using its characteristic finch-style alternate gliding and flapping technique.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Where They Live: The breeding range of black-headed grosbeaks extends from southwestern Canada to southern Mexico, and from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast during the spring and summer months. They retreat to Mexico for the winter.
Preferred habitat includes woodlands, parks, orchards and wooded suburbs. Black-headed grosbeaks fill an ecological niche similar to their eastern cousins, rose-breasted grosbeaks. In that area of the Great Plains where the ranges of these two species overlap, hybridization occurs.
What They Eat: Black-headed grosbeaks are fond of early fruit, peas and beans. They forage for seeds, nuts, insects and beetles, and will visit feeders stocked with sunflower seeds.
Appearance: The bird's name is derived from the French "gros bec," which means "large bill," and the grosbeak bill is a good clue to the bird's diet and lifestyle. Its large, pale conical bill is ideally suited for cracking seeds, yet it is a graceful eater. Watch as the black-headed grosbeak carefully shells one sunflower seed after another at your feeder. Males have a cinnamon-orange breast, sides and rump. The head and tail are black and the wings are black with white patches. Females are brown above with white wing patches and show buff yellow where the males are orange. Female black-heads have a broad white eyebrow.
Voice: The song of the black-headed grosbeak is a lengthy melody that is similar to the songs of woodland thrushes. It is comprised of a series of whistles and trills. The call note is a short "chink," similar to that of the rose-breasted grosbeak.
Evening Grosbeak
Where They Live: Evening grosbeaks are found from coast to coast across Canada, along the northern edge of the United States and in the higher elevations of the western mountains. They are closely associated with the boreal forests of these regions. Grosbeaks move southward into much of the United States during winter when natural seeds are limited. There are indications that evening grosbeaks are expanding their range as they are periodically forced to explore more southern latitudes for winter food supplies.
What They Eat: The large, conical bill of the evening grosbeak is ideally suited for cracking open the seeds of spruce, firs, maples and box elder. Because it works equally well at cracking striped sunflower seeds, a feeder filled with these thick-shelled seeds amounts to a grosbeak welcome sign. Warning: Evening grosbeaks forage in large, hungry flocks. Keep the bag of seed at hand, and enjoy the sight and sounds of these beautiful winter nomads.
Appearance: At first glance the plumage of these chunky members of the finch family make them look like overgrown goldfinches. About eight inches long, males and females both have black wings with large white patches and short, forked tails. The male’s head, throat and back are bright yellow. Females have a similar pattern with much softer, more muted colors. Both sexes have large, whitish beaks. At a distance flocks of evening grosbeaks may be identified by their undulating flight pattern and flashes of white on the wings. If a flock of grosbeaks decides to stay at your feeder, watch the male's bill as spring approaches. It changes color from yellow to bright lime-green for breeding season.
Voice: The call note of the evening grosbeak is a loud, clear "peee-er" or "cleee-ip." When sung by an individual bird, the sound is pretty. When a chorus of evening grosbeaks is calling all at once, they sound like ringing sleigh bells.
Pine Grosbeak
Where They Live: Pine grosbeaks are hardy birds of the far north. They live in the coniferous forests of Canada, Alaska and the northern Rockies. So far north is their orientation that they are classified as a "circumpolar" species; they also can be found in northern Europe and Russia. Pine grosbeaks are a nomadic species, and their migration schedule does not always closely follow seasonal changes in the weather. Depending on their vegetative food supply, they move south in some winters in search of sustenance. When this occurs in your backyard, a very special guest has appeared.
What They Eat: Pine grosbeaks consume the buds, berries, seeds and nuts of northern trees and shrubs. The specie's name suggests just how strong is this food association. The scientific name for the pine grosbeak is pinicola enucleator. Pinus is Latin for "pine" and enucleare in Latin means "to take out kernels." In winter they eat fruits of American high bush cranberry by mashing them in order to swallow the seeds, then drop the pulp and skin to the ground. When visiting feeders, pine grosbeaks favor sunflower seeds.
Appearance: About the size of a robin, pine grosbeaks have stout, short, conical bills well suited to extracting seed kernels. The black wings sport two white wing bars, and the dark tail is relatively long. The birds are shades of gray with splashes of color on the head, flanks and rump. In the male that color is pink. In the female the color is olive-green. Pine grosbeaks are extraordinarily tame and seemingly tranquil. People in Newfoundland have a local nickname, "mopers," for these motionless birds.
Voice: The song of the pine grosbeak is a clear, musical warble that sounds similar to the songs of goldfinches and purple finches. The common call note is a more distinctive, three-syllable "tee-tee-tee" repeated at regular intervals.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Where They Live: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are neo-tropical migrants. They spend the winter months in an area from central Mexico to northern South America. In May they return to the North American continent and take up summer residence in the northeastern United States and southern Canada. Males arrive back first, select an appropriate nesting territory and begin singing to attract a prospective mate as the females arrive. Favored sites are located in deciduous forests and woodland edges. Because of this preference, rose-breasted grosbeaks frequently are victims of brown-headed cowbirds. Female cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and leave parental duties o the surrogates.
What They Eat: Rose-breasted grosbeaks forage for food in the wooded environment they inhabit. A large, conical bill allows them to consume a variety of seeds, fruit and insects. A typical diet might include the seeds of elms, the blossoms of hickory or beech trees and the buds of white ash. Insects of the forest such as gypsy moths and tent caterpillars are table fare for grosbeaks. It is a great delight to backyard birdwatchers that grosbeaks also relish sunflower seeds. This taste readily brings them to platform or hopper feeders stocked with striped or black-oil sunflower seeds.
Appearance: Male grosbeaks in spring breeding plumage are brilliantly handsome birds. The head and back are black, the belly and rump are white and the upper breast has a beautiful triangular patch of bright red. Females resemble over-sized sparrows with a broad white eyebrow and streaked breast. Grosbeaks show white flashes in their wings as they fly, but it is the stout, conical bill that provides the positive identification of all the grosbeaks, make and female.
Voice: Rose-breasted grosbeaks often sing from the treetops in their loud, clear song. It is a richer, more melodious version of the lengthy singsong of the American robin and the notes are sweeter and more slurred whistles. The call note of the grosbeak is equally distinctive. It is a sharp, metallic "chink." This call sounds like the abrupt "screep" sound that sneakers make on a highly waxed gymnasium floor.