Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-06

yellow pirQ, WIG canary, sctAASe phN nHa
thistle bird. The English name OF the gold
finch is well chosen, as the bright yellow
of the male when in breeding plumage is
like FURNISHED gold. The Latin generic
name OF the goldhnch has reference to
prickly plants, while its specific name,
tristis, sad, refers to its rather plaintiye
fight note. The female goldfnch is more
nodestIy dressed than her mate.
The changes in plumsge Of the male are
very interesting and, to the novice, some
what pulling. Until the student be-
comes acquainted with this bird he may
wonder why he sees no males during the
winter. The truth is, at this season the
fiocks OF supposed female goldhnches are
really OF both sexes, the male bird having
assumed in the previous fall, usually by
the end OF October, a plumage closely re-
sembling that Of the female and young
bird OF the year.
The male retains this inconspicuous
dress until late in February, when one can
notice a gradual change taking place in
some OF the birds. This mott, or renewal
of feathers, is actively continued through
March and April. and by the first OF May
our Respondent bird is with US again.
The change from yellow to brownish and
back again to yellow can be noted bs the
student in the field, who, with q good
opera glass, will find that the variations in
piumage between the two extremes are
without number.
The song period with the male gold
finch continues as long as ne wears his
gold and black livery, for il commences as
early as the middle Of March and ends
late in August.
Goldfinches are wee birds, some four
and one half-inches in length, but what
they lack in size they make up in ad-
miraoie qualities, one Of the chief Of
which is their gregarious mode OF life.
Except during the short season devoted
to domestic duties, they associate in tiocks
and live happy, nomadic existence.
Their undulating mode OF flight seems to
express JOY and exaltation, and when they
add song, ii is the very abandon OF happi-
ness. Even in winter, when the fields are
brow and the trees are bare, flock OF
goldfnches adds the charm OF life to an
otherwise dead outlook.
The goldfnch migrates. but not to the
extent that the truly migratory species
do. The warhlers, for instance, desert
their summer homes and, after making
long journeys southwark. spend the winter
beyond the limits of the United States;
the goldfinehes, ON the contrary, grsdu-
all Ia IA
gulf states and in winter are found from
the gulf coast as far north as the latitude
OF central New York. Their breeding
range is from the Carolinss westward to
the Rocky mountains and northward 10
British provinces and southern Labrador;
consequently they are permanent resi-
dents in a large part OF the United States
where their migratory and breeding
ranges overlap. There are closely related
forms or sab-species OF the goldfinch
found in the West and on the Mexican
border which are so much like the Ameri-
can goldfinch that it may be said gold
finches are found in large part of North
America.
Goldhnches are very clearly In their
habits and indulge in frequent, baths; in
deed, the border OF shallow pool is an
excellent place to study this species, as ii
is not an uncommon sight to see a number
OF the brightly-colored males gathered
there. During the breeding season the
parent birds seem to have a well defined
route from the nest TO common water
ing place.
The nesting site may be in an evergreen
or deciduous bush or tree. and the nest
may be built only a few feet from the
ground or at considerable height, where
it is saddled On or attached TO forked
twig. The nest itself is an exquisite
piece of bird architecture, compactly built
OF dried grasses, leaves and shreds OF bark,
the outside being embellished with
lichens, which Audubon says are attached
by saliva. The inside OF the nest is lined
with the softest plant-down.
The mother bird is the builder of this
tasteful home, her handsome consort,
during the nest-building time, devoting
most Of his efforts to singing to cheer his
industrious mate. After the four to six
blush white eggs have been laid the
the singing partner has more work to do,
for he has to feed his brooding wife. His
frequent visits are always announced
with sweet, conversational song, which
he seems able to give even though his bill
is filled with seeds.
These leaflets are published to induce
the boys and girls Of the country to keep
their eyes wide open and see things out OF
doors. One of the things we want to
know about the goldfinch is why he be-
gins to nest SO late in the season, often
long after most birds are through with
domestic duties for the year. August is
the time he chooses. Surely it seems
strange month for nest building and the
care OF young. Does he select it because
before that date nature has not provided
food suited to the needs OF the young
goldfinches?
The goldfinch belongs to the thick
billed, seed-eating cnss OF birds, and is ex-
tPa nal u 81 , ho "a