Scientific Name: Spinus tristis
Family: Fringillidae
Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania
Size: Medium finch: Length: 11–14 cm (4.3–5.5 in); Wingspan: 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in)
Active: Year-round resident*
Field Markings: “Breeding male is bright yellow with black cap; female and winter male duller overall, lacking cap; ‘;[Black wings with white bars; Black-and-white tail; white undertail coverts.” (Alderfer p. 258-259)
August 7, 2020: Alderfer says, “Typical goldfinch diet, mostly seeds, is the most vegetarian of any North American bird, though the goldfinch does sometimes eat insects as well.” In our yard, goldfinches prefer seeds from sunflowers and cup plants. They can often be seen pushing each other off favored stalks to get seeds.
Female Goldfinch on Cup Plant 
Male Goldfinch on Sunflower 
Male Goldfinch on Coneflower 
Male Goldfinch 
Goldfinch Winter 
Female Goldfinch on Cup Plant 
Female Goldfinch on Autumn Sedum