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Birding
Washington State Bird
American Goldfinch
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| Artwork courtesy of Dale Thompson, P.O. Box 443, Eatonville, WA 98328; (360) 832-3440 |
The American Goldfinch was designated
as the Washington State Bird in 1951. This beautiful golden
bird is found throughout our state and is commonly seen in
flocks in fields, bushes and trees.
Dandelions, sunflowers and especially
thistles, are preferred food - hence the scientific name Carduelis,
from the Latin carduus, a thistle.
The male American Goldfinch is characterized
by his black cap and black wings. The female and young can
be identified by the solid-color back and breast, stubby finch
bill, wing bars, notched tail, whitish rump and roller-coaster
flight. In autumn, the male takes on a grayish yellow color
to resemble the female.
The song is long, high and sweet. Keep
your eye out for our state bird!
For more information about the American
Goldfinch, visit the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology and the Bird
Identification Information Center.
For information about the Washington state
official tree, insect, fish, and flower click here.
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