Evening star., 1945-01-13
This and That
By Charles E. Traceueu.

Reports of goldfnches have come in.
birds in their winter dress, some of
them already showing traces of the
summer yellow.
The winter dress of the goldfnch. or
wild canary as it often is called. is
greenish, with much brown.
The yellow first shows around the
neck, and then goes on to take in
the breast and back in the male.
Sometimes people fail to recognize tho
goldhnch in its winter dress. The adult
female is greenish in summer, and
more brownish in winter.
The male in winter Is similar to his
mate, but with more black on wings
and tail. The whitish markings on the
wings are more distinct
Young birds resemble the winter
adults but are browner. There is more
redoish brown, the color being pretty
evenly distributed over the coat.
Goldf1nches may be lured to window
sill feeding stations by various mix
lures of "wildbird food"
There can be little question that
winter visitations depend a great deal
on location. just as there is a blue
bird belt" through Wesley Heights, so
there is place of greater density of
goldf1nches. This is the Bethesda dis
trict in nearby Maryland.
Sunfowers planted in the garden
Will draw them in summer and fall.
Other plants they like are zinnias,
coreopsis and wild clematis.
Dandelions and chickweed are favor
ties OF the wild canary. Whether even
an ardent friend of birds would leave
these for them in his favorite lawn is
question, but there can be no ques-
ton at all that the birds like the
seeds.
Generally the color changes do not
begin until much later than this. He
puts on the black cap and mask last
OF all, and begins to lose it in September.
These fine little birds do not 20
much farther South than the Potomac,
so we are fortunate.
To see goldfinch swinging on a
thistle is sight for the most sophis-
ticated person. In fact, there is prob
ably no person so obtuse to natural
beauty who would not exclaim at the
way the creature can swing on slender
thread OF plant, sometimes bearing it
almost to the ground, but always COM
ing up with 1t in fine display of
buoyancy.
Father goldhnches go right on sing
ing through the summer. The song is
very bubbling, with many real canary
notes. The Latin for sad" is in his
scientific name, but it is difacult to
hear the song in that way; mostly it
strikes the ear as happy and alert,
tinged with complete gayety rather than
melancholy.
The winter diet of the bird in nature
consists of weed seeds, and the seeds
OF such trees as the birch, and some
bushes such as the buttonbush.
, 1t may be realized that such fare is
hard to find in the snow, SO all per-
sons interested In bird life who put
out seeds in the winter are helping
this fine species, along with all the
rest of our feathered friends.
1t Is held by some to be sophisti-
Gated attitude to laugh at the phrase
"our feathered friends" but we feel
sure that this is, as so much poking of
fun, based mostly on ignorance. One
cannot look into bird life long without
discovering that the birds really are
our friends. and that they are feathered
is matter for observation.
80
The ability of the goldfinch to cut
open seed without leaving any mark
has been noted by many scientists.
Such seeds seem perfect on the sur
face, but close examination reveals
tiny cut in each. through which the
meat was extracted by the bird.
European goldfnches were introduced
into Hoboken, N. j., In 1873 and 1879.
Records were made of them every year
thereafter until 1888.
Observers feel sure that some are
left, and goldfinch enthusiasts are
warned to be on the lookout for them.
They can be told By having red faces.