Goldfinch American basic information

The American Goldfinch is a relatively small bird - no larger than your average sparrow. The average mature individual measures approximately four and a quarter inches. Its coloration changes from summer to fall. The summer plumage of the American Goldfinch is a brilliant yellow, with a black spot on its head. The tail has a white-colored bottom with black spots, and a white base that extends from the bottom to the top. It has black wings, striped beautifully with white along either wing, a small white patch complementing each shoulder. In the winter, these colors are all dulled slightly, and females as a whole have a dimmer, less bright color pattern than the average male.