BIRD OF THE WEEK - Week Ten (AMERICAN GOLDFINCH)

Our bird this week, the American Goldfinch, will wrap up our series on Bird of the Week.  It has been very helpful to me, to brush up on my bird calls and I hope it was helpful to you.

The American Goldfinch vocalizations are considered to be complex vocalizations.  The songs are a lively, high-pitched series of chirps, twitters, and trills.  They have a flight call which sounds like perchickaree, perchickaree.  Fledglings have a call of their own:  chipee, chipee, chipeepee.  Again it is best to listen to the audio at www.birdjam.com/learn.php. Click on American Goldfinch.

Though small, American Goldfinches are easy to spot because of their color, not their location.  This time of year the male is a vibrant yellow with black wings, the female, a duller yellow.  If you have a thistle feeder, you no doubt see these birds on a regular basis.  If not, learn their vocalizations.  Since they frequent leafy trees and are obscured by foliage, it is helpful to listen for them first and then search them out. 

Keep in mind that some birds sing all of the time and all birds sing some of the time!  So keep listening and make good use of the websites that provide audio:  www.birdjam.com/learn.php and www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp.  

So keep on birding.  It adds another dimension to the out-of-doors.  Bird of the Week will be back next spring.  Thanks for tuning in.  Stay tuned for the further adventures of Ar and San as they Bird and Bond.