Female American Goldfinch, Winter Plumage

by Bob Huff
(Lethbridge, Alberta Canada)

Q: Unable to identify bird. Location is Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Bird is little smaller than sparrow. Thanks. -Bob Huff

A: This is a female American Goldfinch in its winter plumage which is paler and drabber than the summer breeding plumage. Both males and females will be more brownish or grayish in color, sometimes the males will have a black spot on the forehead near the base of the bill and be slightly more "brighter" overall.

American Goldfinch northern winter range usually does not extend much further north than the border of the United States and Canada. Winter range maps show the range no further north than the border of Montana with Alberta, but since Lethbridge is not that much further north, it would not be too unusual for goldfinch to be there.

American Goldfinch, Winter Plumage

Amercian Goldfinch Id and Life History