Pretty goldfinches are strict vegetarians!

The goldfinch's bright yellow plumage changes colors in the fall. Photo: Jeffrey L. Stone

The American Goldfinch is sometimes commonly called a yellow canary. It is not. It is a lovely songbird that is fun to watch whether at a feeder or darting mid-air.

The male is bright yellow with black wings and topknot while the female is duller yellow beneath, olive above. The males are a wonderful barometer of coming season. Late fall the males begin changing to a dull olive and early spring he molts again to bring back his brilliant yellow plumage. Most goldfinches don't migrate but because their plumage changes colors, people think they have left for the winter.

Goldfinches are the latest to breed waiting until July or August when seeds are bountiful. They thrive on milkweed, thistle, and perennials that set seeds. Goldfinches are among the strictest vegetarians in the bird world, selecting an entirely vegetable diet. You can feed nyger (thistle) or sunflower chips; these require specialized feeders.

Brandt Carter is a local bird enthusiast as well as a puppy trainer for Canine Companions therapy dogs. She and her husband own Backyard Birds, 2374 E. 54th St., Indianapolis 46220. Brandt's column appears in The Broad Ripple Gazette. To subscribe, visit the Broad Ripple Gazette Home Page