For the past month, my small flock of 10 goldfinches has been clutching at the thistle cage and jockeying for position at the feeder with the sunflower hearts. I have been able to watch as their Midas-like plumage intensifies. And then one day, when I thought the little golden beauties could not be more spectacular. They disappeared. Vamoosed. They do this to me each year – they tease me with their brilliance, then leave. My thought is that now they have peaked in mating colors, they will actually mate and build nests. No more of this small flock business. It’s now every bird for himself.
The American goldfinch begins its breeding and nesting season later than most all backyard birds. This may be related to the abundance of seeds in the late summer months, as seeds represent the majority of their diet. If the chicks hatched now or soon, there would be no seeds to sustain them.
The nest is built in late summer by the female in the branches of a deciduous shrub or tree at a height of about 30 feet, pretty high for such a tiny bird. It must be a real leap of faith for the young ones to fly. Goldfinches generally have only one nest per year, so they have to make it count. They commonly lay 4 to 6 eggs per nest.
I don’t know how long they’ll be gone, but if they get hungry, they know where the food is. Later, when our perennial thistle bushes flower, they will be back en masse, clinging to and pecking away at each thistle pod.
They are certainly beautiful birds, and they are welcome anytime.